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FOOTBALL: MARICOPA (2-4, 0-3) vs. GILBERT WILLIAMS FIELD (6-0, 3-0), 7 P.M.
Rams aim to tighten defense against upstart Black Hawks
By ERIC MUNGENAST
Staff Writer
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Eric Mungenast/Maricopa Monitor, Junior quarterback Travis Brown was the recipient of a multitude of hits Friday night, during the Rams’ 42-10 loss to Phoenix Arcadia. Brown made his first start of the season, replacing junior Patrick Davis.
That treat would be a victory against currently undefeated Williams Field (6-0, 3-0 East Sky), which is coming off the biggest win in its two-year history. The Black Hawks are coming off a 32-30 upset of Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep last week, ending Notre Dame’s 28-game winning streak and shooting the team’s reputation upward.
Head coach Eric Reed said he was “shocked” when he found out about the upset, which improved Williams Field’s ranking in 4A-II power points to third, tied with Tucson Santa Rita and Buckeye.
“They proved they’re a force to be reckoned with,” he said.
Williams Field enters tonight’s match up against the Rams (2-4, 0-3) averaging 291 rushing yards per game, led by halfback Brandon Warren’s 114 rushing YPG and 10 touchdowns on the season.
The team also features a strong passing game, led by quarterback Tom Ross’ 172 YPG. Ross completes 61 percent of his passes, and has 11 touchdowns on the season, compared with just three interceptions, and can run the ball when necessary.
Reed said the game plan is to control Williams Field’s offense by stopping the run and forcing the team to pass, rather than have Williams Field control the game’s pace.
That entails a much more consistent defensive effort than what the team has displayed, Reed said, and a bit more aggression from the Rams defense.
As a unit, the defense has been inconsistent, at times showing the ability to execute an effective game plan, for example slowing Scottsdale Coronado halfback Shawn Martin to 114 rushing yards, when he had entered the game averaging 152 yards per game.
On the other hand, the defense has also been burned for major yardage, especially last week when Phoenix Arcadia’s Jake Hirschi ran for 115 yards on just eight carries, with three touchdowns.
“We need to be an attacking defense,” he said.
On defense, Williams Field is led by defensive end Rhett Scheum, who is averaging more than a sack a game. That Black Hawk defense has compiled 21.5 sacks overall in six games.
To counteract that defensive pressure, Reed said the team is focusing on ensuring that the Williams Field linebackers are making most of the tackles, instead of the defensive line, to avoid the long third down situations that have plagued Maricopa since the start of 4A-II East Sky region play.
Reed attempted to jump-start the offense last week by inserting junior Travis Brown at quarterback in his first extended action of this season. Though he was just 6-for-15 passing with two interceptions against the Titans, Reed believes Brown puts Maricopa in a better position to succeed.
He also spread the carries out more last week, with senior Kendal Morris picking up 41 yards on 11 carries, junior Brian Nechamkin getting 30 yards off five carries and starting running back Davon Snell carrying 11 times for 28 yards. Brown himself also ran 12 times for 31 yards.
“We know are playing at a better level than we were the week before,” he said.
Even with the big victory against Scottsdale Notre Dame, Reed knows Williams Field still has something to prove heading into Maricopa, as the team has to show that last week’s victory was not a “fluke.”
“We’re looking to shock them,” he said.
For a full recap of the game, go online to www.trivalleycentral.com Saturday morning.
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