Where: Heartland Field at Red Rider Stadium
When: Friday September 28, 2012, 7pm
All-Time Series: Orrville leads 26-12, including the last 3 in a row and 10 of the last 13.
Coaches: Kevin Maltarich, 11-14 in his 3rd year at West Holmes. Doug Davault, 51-27 in his 7th year at Orrville.
Last Week: West Holmes beat Ashland 41-36, Orrville lost to Mansfield Senior, 35-12.
Last Year: Orrville beat West Holmes 28-21.
Radio: Live webcast courtesy of The Voice of Holmes County. Broadcast begins at 6:30pm
Orrville and West Holmes will meet for the 40th time since the rivalry began in 1967 and for the 88th time if you count the games between Orrville and Millersburg High.
The Riders have won 11 of the 13 meetings between the schools since 1993, but will be decided underdogs to the undefeated and state-ranked Knights. Fresh off a big win over Ashland last week, the Knights will look to begin the 2nd half of the season the same way they ended the first half..with a win..and they can think of no better venue to continue their winning ways than the new turf at Red Rider Stadium against a Red Rider team having it's share of struggles.
They will bring a stable of running backs to the turf at Heartland Field and will run the ball 85% of the time, but will also have athletes to catch the ball as well.
The Riders are struggling to find their way on offense, scoring a total of just 20 points over their last 2 games, while the defense has given up 32.5 points over those same 2 games. In the Riders 4 losses, they've allowed 29, 34, 30 and 35 points (128 total) while scoring just 70.
To have a shot at a win, the Riders must create turnovers and turn those into points. On offense, they must sustain drives and on defense they have to get off the field on 3rd down. They cannot be on the field for long Knight drives of 10+ plays. The Knights attack will simply wear our defense down unless the Riders can get stops & turnovers.
Stranger things have happened, and perhaps the Knights, who have big contests looming with Mansfield Senior and Lexington will be looking past the Riders...but I doubt it. The Knight faithful know all too well of the Red Rider Tradition and I'm guessing won't be looking past anyone on their way to a likely playoff appearance.
Amazingly enough, if the Riders are able to pull out a win, a bevy of computer points will come their way, possibly enough to crack the top 15 in the region. It would be the needed first step to even begin discussing a playoff spot.
Play for pride, Riders!! Let's win one on the turf.
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