Set for conference play: Unbeaten Olympians ready to stay 'grounded' vs. Owls
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Columbus East's Markell Jones escapes a diving Shaquille Ash to score the game-winner in last Friday's Pigskin Scramble. This Friday East takes on Seymour at home (Joe Harpring | The Republic)
IT would appear Seymour, a team that has struggled defensively in the early part of the 2012 season, is in big trouble when it faces host Columbus East at 7 p.m. Friday
The Olympians (2-0) rushed for 228 yards against Columbus North, which by all accounts has a solid defensive team.
The Owls (0-2, 0-1 Hoosier Hills) allowed touchdowns on Jeffersonville’s first seven possessions in a 52-14 loss on Friday in their Hoosier Hills Conference opener.
Stopping East tailback Markell Jones, who has piled up 302 yards on the ground in two games, would not seem likely.
Nevertheless, East coach Bob Gaddis has to keep his team rolling.
“Seymour has a very good quarterback (Austin Sutton) who is very versatile,” Gaddis said. “He is the best passer that we have played.
“They do a lot of different things offensively. Moving the ball hasn’t been an issue for them.”
Gaddis expects the Owls to go all out to stop Jones.
“I think they will load up the box,” Gaddis said. “This is going to be a different front than we’ve seen. They run a 4-4. They have some pretty active linebackers.”
Perhaps the toughest task for the Olympians on Friday will be to prevent a letdown. They have been through two very tough, emotional victories against Class 5A opponents.
“What has to happen is that our players hold each other accountable,” Gaddis said. “Will they? I hope so. We’ve answered every bell so far.”
Although East has been impressive in its opening two victories, it has some problem areas to improve if it expects to be an impact team in the playoffs. The Olympians were pushed around defensively by North in the fourth quarter Friday, and the Olympians also have been inconsistent in terms of their intensity.
Seymour, meanwhile, would like to revisit the first two quarters of its season when it built a 21-0 lead over Franklin. The Owls have been outscored 80-14 since.
Sutton has thrown six interceptions in the first two games so that’s got to be a point of emphasis for Seymour, which also has had fumbling problems.
The Owls have a solid runner, Hunter Klakamp, who has rushed for 120 yards in the first two games. Tanner Belcher has been a versatile threat for the Owls, as he has rushed for 104 yards in the first two games and has caught two passes for 79 yards. Klakamp has caught six passes for 60 yards.
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