The long wait for the new football season ends tonight when the Illinois Valley Central Grey Ghosts head to Dunlap to take on the Eagles.
“Dunlap is a good team and we’re going to have to play a good game to beat them,” coach Tim Heinz said.
Offensively, the Ghosts will rely on the arm of quarterback Brock Adcock to launch the ball downfield to receiver Trever Black.
“We have to be able to run the ball and control the clock,” Heinz said. “We also have to complete passes when we get in situations where we need to throw.”
The Ghost offensive line, which gave Dan Semtner plenty of time to find a hole to run through from the backfield last season, will be tested against a tough Dunlap defensive line as they try to help Jared Lauber and Semtner move the ball.
“Defensively they run a four-three defense and a cover two (four defensive lineman, three linebackers with two defensive backs back in coverage),” Heinz said. “They have some big people on their line but also have a mobile line.”
On defense, the Ghosts will have their hands full with a tough Eagle offense that is capable of putting points on the board.
“They run a spread offense and like to throw the ball,” Heinz said. “If you take that away from them then they can still run the ball.
“We have to survive the barrage of passes to their two tall receivers and also control their run game.”
The Ghosts are also looking to break a certain bad habit that has plagued them in recent openers.
“We have to be disciplined and not turn the ball over,” Heinz said. “We have had way too many penalties in the opening game the last few years and it’s hard to win when you do that.”
Friday night’s game may be a shootout between two powerful offenses but if Semtner and Lauber are able to control the ball, and if Adcock and pass IVC out of tough spots, then the Ghosts should be able to rack up more points.
The Ghosts play at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Dunlap.
