Elba at Bath – Saturday, 5:00 pm – Bath High School
| BataviasBest.org
Friday, October 24, 2014
At a glance:
Elba has had an up and down season in the GR League. Beginning the year as one of the clear front runners with a few huge wins in a row, the Lancers fell off down the stretch and finished the year at 4-3. They are a team who likes to run the football, control the clock, and win the game on defense.
Bath has had a great year from start to finish. Accumulating only one loss to Batavia in Week 7, the Rams have gained a reputation as a strong, physical football team who will make any team earn a victory against them. They have dealt with some injuries recently, however, and it will remain to be seen how they bounce back this week.
Players to watch:
Elba
QB Garrett Chappell
Chappell’s ability to complete passes tonight will play a key role in the outcome of the game. If the Elba QB is able to find John Hochmuth among others when they beat their man in the secondary, the Lancers could hit their stride offensively.
RB/LB Steele Truax
Truax is Elba’s MVP so far this season. In each of the Lancers games, Truax seems to record 10+ tackles with ease as well as hitting the holes extremely hard when running the ball. All in all Truax is a hard-nosed football player who will provide the Rams with a two-way challenge on Saturday night.
RB Mike Shanley
Shanley has been the change of pace back for the Lancers during 2014. The lightning to Truax’s thunder, Shanley has been hard to bring down all year and will need to display his elusiveness once again versus the Rams.
RB/DB Richard Flores
In Elba’s game against Cardinal O’Hara, Flores basically won the game single-handedly for his team. Grabbing two interceptions as well as several tackles on defense, the Lancers’ DB will need to play a sound game along the outside tonight in order to shut down the low-volume passing game of the Rams.
TE John Hochmuth
Standing well over 6-feet tall, Hochmuth presents a mismatch for many teams that face the Lancers. On Saturday, Hochmuth will need to get open early and often to help his team move the chains.
DL/OL Andrew Gottler
Featured in our GR Spotlight this week, Gottler will provide the Lancers with the push they need up front. If he is able to get past the big-bodied Bath offensive line, Gottler will be able to wreak some havoc.
Bath
QB Jeremiah Kinner
Stepping in for starter Michael Rice once again this week, Kinner will be called upon to manage the offense for the Rams. While Rice gives Bath another element to their offense with his supreme ability, Kinner did a nice job against Batavia in Week 7 after his teammate went down with a sprained knee.
RB Patrick Brewer
Brewer has been a beast all year for the Rams. Highlighted by a four touchdown effort against Wellsville earlier this season, the Bath bruiser has challenged each team on their schedule this year and will look to do the same versus the Lancers.
RB Bruce Rinker
Another threat to an Elba victory on Saturday, Rinker has also provided the Rams with quality play out of the backfield this season. Sporting a Double Wing look offensively, the Rams will hand it off to Rinker and Brewer early and often in hopes of catching the Lancers out of position.
WR Austin Vasseur
Although they will be without their starter at the quarterback position, Vasseur has shown the ability to dominate this season. Against Livonia in Week 6 for example, he scored two touchdowns.
OL Noah Herrington
Standing 6’4″, 295 lbs, Herrington has been the big man in the middle for the Rams this season. Although he was nursing a leg injury in Week 7 which held him out against Batavia, I have been told he should be good to go for this one. Keep an eye on the big man at the start of the game to see whether or not he is suited up.
Film Review:
To be honest, this game is going to come down to who can manage their offense with the highest amount of success.
While Elba has had trouble on offense for much of the year, the Rams will certainly be effected by the loss of Rice. Without their starting QB, I believe this will be a much more even game than it would have been otherwise. After watching the Rams on film and in person against Batavia, this is what I have discovered:
Against Batavia a week ago, the Rams were able to gash their opponent all night long on the ground and will likely try to do so again on Saturday – especially with their QB on the mend.
Although their size and physicality usually masks their lack of athleticism, Bath’s inability to run with Batavia’s athletes last week was apparent. Although the Lancers aren’t an overly athletic team themselves, if Hochmuth can find space over the middle, I believe he can go for a ton of YAC.
So far this season as a group, Bath has put several balls on the turf. If Elba can get their hands in on Rams ball carriers early and strip the ball away, the Lancers could be in good position going into halftime.
Prediction:
Having gone with the local team in each of their respective matchups with out of town teams this year, I am afraid to say I must go against my heart with this pick. Although the Lancers have put forth several quality performances this season, their lack of offense in recent weeks really frightens me.
If they fail to move the ball the way they did against Alexander in a 21-0 loss a week ago, Elba could find themselves way behind by the time the second quarter comes to an end. With that said, I do believe the Lancers will have a chance if they can regain their rhythm.
However, give me Bath in this one.
Bath 28 Elba 13
Other articles you may like:
Elba Sectional Report: Here are the Lancers’ Playoff scenarios leading up to the game today GR Spotlight: Andrew Gottler and the Elba Lancers hoping for a great effort this weekend ER/Gananda at Attica – Game Prediction and Scouting Report: Will the Blue Devils prove their worth?
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