Facing Miller Friday, Belpre looking to win out
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BELPRE -- The record may be 3-3, but head Belpre football coach Greg Adams is holding onto the premise that his Golden Eagle gridders can still get into the Ohio state playoffs for the third straight season.
"I looked at the computer today (Monday) and it just said, 'Belpre controls its own (playoff) destiny,' " said Adams. "So it means basically that we've got to run the table. I've emphasized that to our players, and they're emphasizing that to each other. We can't have a letdown now."
Adams noted that "after two 8-2 seasons, we certainly don't want a 6-4 or 5-5 season. There's no question we're better than that."
Run the table for Belpre means four straight wins to finish the regular season, starting Friday night when 3-3 Miller comes to town to face the Golden Eagles at 7:30 p.m. at Ralph Holder Stadium.
After Miller, Belpre must take down, in order, 2-4 Shenandoah, 3-3 Eastern and finally 5-1 Waterford -- ranked No. 2 in Division VII, Region 27.
"So we've got to play good football the rest of the way," said Adams. "But we seem to be one of those teams that on any given day, we may make enough mistakes that the other team could beat us.
"So it comes back to the fundamentals -- blocking and tackling, eliminate the turnovers, and execute our offense and defensive plays properly -- and especially stay focused on the task at hand Friday night."
For the invading Falcons Friday, junior running back Zach Waldrop leads in rushing with 855 yards on 82 carries for an 10.4 average, while senior quarterback Cole Geil has passed for 481 yards, completing 29 of 61 aerials, but for only two TDs with four interceptions, and junior Carson Starlin has pulled in six receptions for 184 yards, a 30.7 average.
Penalties, though, too have been a major problem at times for the Golden Eagles this season. "It seems like we get on a roll and all of a sudden, we start moving backwards," said Adams. "You can't pile up that penalty yardage and expect to win football games."
And with Belpre celebrating homecoming Friday night at the game, Adams said he "would like to think that our kids will step up and play like it's their homecoming game."
However even if Belpre is able to go 4-0 down the stretch, Adams stressed that "it's not guaranteed that we'll make the playoffs.
"But if we run the table, I'm hoping that's what we're able to accomplish."