Adrian and Harper set to clash
Season opener expected to be highly-contested
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Thursday, September 4, 2008 11:59 AM PDT
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| Adrian’s Kyle Osborn looks for some daylight in this Argus Observer file photo. Osborn will be a major weapon for the Antelopes in 2008. |
Harper — Eight-man football is a different animal. The game is faster, the scores are higher but the end result is the same: to be the team on top when the clock reads zero.
In the High Desert League, the Adrian Antelopes and the Harper Hornets will begin their seasons at 2 p.m. Friday at the Hornets’ nest.
Harper is coming off a 3-5 overall and 3-4 HDL season from a year ago, and in 2008, things are looking a bit anorexic with only 10 players on the team.
Hornet head coach Mike Eddy said his biggest concern this season will be the condition of his team.
Adrian and Harper have already clashed heads this season in a jamboree at Adrian, and Eddy said he felt his Hornets matched up pretty well against the Antelopes.
With only 10 Hornets in the nest -— nine of which are returning starters -—Harper will basically have to line up on both sides of the football.
Adrian will look to veteran starters like Andrew Harper, Ron Weatherby in the backfield and Steven Casiano under center to lead the charge.
The team will rely heavily on its linemen, Dustin Hicks at center, Gabe White, Colton Nebeker and Ussepe Vargas, rotating at the interior line positions.
Catching the pigskin will be Cole Daniels and Josh Mitchell at the tight end positions, while Will Shenk will haul in the long ball.
“I have seven seniors, two sophomores and a freshman,” Eddy said. “I will rely on those seniors to step up and lead this team.”
As for the visiting team, Adrian, they will also bring in plenty of experience with shifty running back Kyle Osborn and a salty quarterback in Blake Ishida.
These two weapons combined for more than 1,800 yards in 2007.
The Antelopes bring in a veteran line with Kyle Dondero and George Ellsworth.
Adrian’s veteran head football coach, Paul Shenk, said he will field a very tough defense in 2008 with plenty of experience on the gridiron.
In last year’s match up, Adrian ran away with the game late, beating the Hornets 66-28.
Both squads are looking for a positive start in 2008, as they both will be chasing defending HDL champion Crane, who finished last year with a 10-2 record.
