As the Galesburg High School football team moves into the second week of the Western Big 6 Conference season, the bigger focus for the Silver Streaks may be on the rest of the season, and the same could be true for tonight’s opponent, the Moline Maroons.
Streaks coach Tim Dougherty says it’s an even matchup between two teams that are just now beginning to find their way, “Our matchups are very simlar. Our skill kids are similar. They’re trying to get in sync with their offensive and defensive lines, and we’re doing the same so this is really – I think – a key game for the both of us.”
Dougherty also says Moline’s new approach seems to be emphasizing a more wide-open style of offense with less reliance on the rushing game, saying “I think they still want to do that but it’s out of the spread sets there in the shotgun, and I think they’re trying to utilize their skill kids similar to what we’re doing. So it’s comparable offensive scheme not the same, but very similar.”
Galesburg should see a boost by the return of two-way starter Carsen Johnson and center Robert Castellano, who also plays defensive line.
Coach Dougherty added that starting to rebuild the team’s depth will be a major step forward toward success for the final 5 game, “If you have inexperience and you have injuries it’s really hard to get continuity. And quite honestly that’s been our biggest issue is getting past that… and we’re right at mid-season we’ve got to find it or it’s gonna find us.”
First-year Moline coach Mike Morrissey agrees that the Maroons’ offense showed great improvement by winning their last two games, saying “Our kids have done a nice job – especially offensively the last two weeks of trying to get into a rhythm offensively running the ball. At the same time we like to throw the ball too. We want to be balanced. We want to have those different looks. We’re hoping that eventually it starts to click more. Because it’s such a new system sometimes things take a little bit longer than you like.”
Morrissey added that part of a heavier reliance on the passing offense comes from what he learned coaching in Arizona with former Rams quarterback and NFL Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner was his offensive coordinator, “And he gave us some different advantages from his perspective – just to see things from a numerical stand point – that you try and take advantage of. ”
After an 0-2 start, the Maroons have won two straight while Galesburg dropped its first conference game last week at Quincy.
Galesburg gave up 49 points last week in a loss at Quincy, Moline scored 49 in a shutout of United Township.
Tonight’s action is a varsity-only game as the sophomore game has been rescheduled for Saturday at 9 A.M. due to the forecast heat.
The varsity game’s starting time is still 7:30, with pre-game broadcast begins at 7:06 with Brad Bennewitz, Jake Miller and Shawn Hickey on 93.7 FM, 1400 AM WGIL.
AREA SCHEDULE
Quincy @ Rock Island
Alleman @ United Township
West Central @ Mid-County
Ridgewood @ Stark County
United @ Princeville
South Fulton @ Abingdon-Avon
Lewistown @ Knoxville
North Fulton @ Rusville-Industry
West Prairie/Bushnell-Prairie City @ Elmwood/Brimfield
Sherrard @ Monmouth-Roseville
Mercer County @ Annawan-Wethersfield
