Struggles continue for Blair, Blake; Springbrook wins again

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006

It’s been a tough road for the Blair football team, one that’s only getting more and more difficult. If there’s a bright side, there’s nowhere to go but up.

The Blazers (0-3) have been shut out in their last two games, by Springbrook (Sept. 16) and Quince Orchard Thursday night, both by scores of 28-0. The offense simply hasn’t been able to get untracked, after showing positive signs in an opening-night loss (21-14) to Richard Montgomery. And this Friday, they host mighty Sherwood (3-0), who have only allowed six points all season.

In the Richard Montgomery game, senior quarterback⁄running back Ross Williams fired two touchdown passes, one while lined up as the signal caller and another on a halfback option. But he is being showcased primarily as a ball carrier now, while junior Darius Smith is now handling quarterback responsibilities.

Like Williams, Smith is multi-dimensional. He caught one of Williams’ two touchdown passes in the opener. But against the Warriors, Smith will be used at quarterback.

‘‘Ross is just the running back right now, that’s what’s best,” said head coach Jeff Seals. ‘‘Darius is our QB. We played better on the offensive side [against Quince Orchard, despite the score] and with more enthusiasm. It’s working.”

Blue Devils pound Titans

Maybe the Springbrook football team’s opening-game defeat was an aberration.

After losing 33-0 in their 2006 debut against Sherwood, the Blue Devils (2-1) have rebounded nicely, notching two consecutive blowout victories, including a 39-12 romp over Einstein last Thursday.

Senior halfback Adou Kuadio ran wild against the Titans (0-3), blazing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He came into the game with just 107 yards in two games.

But after relatively easy wins over Blair and Einstein, the Blue Devils will once again be tested this Friday. They face a neighborhood-rival Paint Branch team that comes into the contest averaging over 30 points a game, and also showcases the top receiver in the county in Dayon Arrington (17 catches, 383 yards, 4 TDs).

Arrington missed last year’s game between the two teams, which Springbrook won, 29-7. But he is healthy now. So this rivalry game against the Panthers (2-1) will likely show if Springbrook’s opening loss was a sign of things to come, or merely a fluke.

‘‘It’s a big neighborhood game,” said Springbrook coach Rob Wendel. ‘‘We can’t be tight, we played real tight against Sherwood. Paint Branch is very good just like Sherwood and their offensive is outstanding. I need to have our guys flying around.”

Bengals plans not playing out

After a dismal, 1-9 season in 2005, the Blake football team was looking for a resurgence. But their 2006 campaign has not gone according to plan.

The Bengals fell to 0-3 Thursday with a 42-6 loss to Sherwood in their first Montgomery 4A East Division game of the season. After losing a shootout to Northeast Consortium rival Paint Branch in the opener, the Bengals have managed just six points in each of their last two games. But moving the ball, according to head coach Tony Nazzaro, has not been the problem.

‘‘Offensively, we’re playing well and doing a lot of good things,” Blake coach Tony Nazzaro said. ‘‘We’re just not getting into the end zone. But you look yardage-wise, we got over 300 yards offensively Thursday. That means you’re doing some good things.”

With junior quarterback Jeremiah Prophet out with a tweaked knee, the Bengals relied heavily on their ground game Thursday. Senior running back Corwin Acker rushed for 113 yards on 25 carries and scored Blake’s lone touchdown. In fact, it marked the first touchdown scored against Sherwood (3-0 overall, 3-0 4A East) this season. Senior fullback Kofi Asante added 119 rushing yards.

Acker completed a 32-yard pass and backup quarterback Jason Ruben completed an 18-yard pass. But the Bengals know if they’re going to have any success this season, they’re going to have to become more versatile.