I'm going to try to start posting some of my thoughts on what I saw each week on the Game of the Week on KAT Country 98.3 (when I have time, and, more importantly, when I remember). Zero week is always hard to judge, as teams only have 2 weeks of practice. Some mistakes are expected, there are always some struggles, but there are also some things to take away.
We start first with Yuma vs. Caliche
Yuma 13, Caliche 7
This may be the hardest Zero Week game to pick apart. Yuma had 2 weeks to install a new offense and defense under first year head coach Ryan Burkholder, while Caliche had 2 weeks to learn how to play 11 man football again (CHSAA has Caliche listed as a team playing up into 8-man, so technically the Buffs were actually playing up 2 classifications).
Caliche struggled on offense (understatement). I had them for 1 total yard at the half, 58 total yards at the end of the game (taking out penalties). It is obvious the Buffs want to feature quarterback Tyson Weingardt, but the 11-man game wasn't the best indication of how they intend to do so. Caliche ran predominately out of a wishbone look, something I hadn't seen from them in 8-man or 11-man, so it is hard to tell how the offense will look once they get back to 8-man. Fullback Kort Johnson (SR) showed some flashes (11 carries, 30 yds) and will be a nice compliment to Weindardt (17 carries, 47 yds). Caliche only threw 4 passes, completing 2 (one for no gain, one for -4 yards). I expect to see the wide open offense return in the 8-man game. Defensively Caliche did a fairly nice job. They seemed a bit undersized against Yuma, but made up for it with good speed and gang tackling. Even though it was an ugly game Caliche seemed like they were content playing vanilla ball, and not showing a whole lot. If the Buffs can find stability and more production from the tailback spot they will once again contend in 8-man.
The Indians went into the game with some questions, namely, how will the new offense look. Running primarily out of an offset I Yuma racked up 194 yards rushing. Alex Klopp was the starter, but he may have lost his job to Matt Bowland. Bowland came in to spell Klopp in the first quarter, and ended up with 16 carries for 143 yards and a TD. Bowland is a big, strong rusher, and with the power run game Burkholder ran, seems to be a better fit, with Klopp as a nice change of pace back. Yuma threw more than I expected, to mixed success. James Hess went 6-14 for 81 yards and a touchdown, but also had 2 passes picked off. I saw flashes though of a passing game that can be dangerous. Four of the 6 completions were for over 10 yards. This is an offense that should only get better as the season progresses, as more plays are installed with more variety, and a better understanding of the offense comes together. Yuma was stout defensively, with a 5 man front that should bode well in a run heavy Northern Conference. Bowland made a number of plays on that side of the ball, and Lucas Andrews can be a force up front. Of concern for Yuma...experienced depth. The junior and senior classes aren't very big, so there could be concerns should the injury bug bite.
Akron 33, John Mall 0
Akron is good. Jourdan Hottinger is a force. Now that the obvious is out of the way here is what I saw.
I was surprised at the balance Akron had. What I saw Saturday is what I expected last year with Chance Friedly, not this year. Akron threw 11 times (yes, for Akron that is balance) completing 5. Maybe more shocking though, was that Hottinger was the passer. He finished with 63 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, but on most of the passes I was left saying "Hottinger showed good touch." He didn't have any passes where he had to show zip, and wasn't put in many must-throw situations, but for a Zero Week game I was impressed. In the running game Akron was Akron, racking up 242 yards. Hottinger ran for 142 on 17 carries, and finished with 3 scores. It is no surprise that the senior is the feature back. Levi Hottinger went for 33 as the blocking back. Austin Spear went for 29 as a wingback, and Daniel Campell went for 13 as the second backfield back. If I had to guess based on what I saw, Spear may become the second backfield back along with Hottinger in the single wing. He ran with more authority, seemed more sure of his cuts, and was faster to the hole, all staples of an Akron offense.
The Akron defense was steller, holding John Mall to 19 1st half yards (the Panthers finished with 104 in the game). Line play for Akron on both sides was fantastic. I find myself saying this year after year, but Akron is Akron. They will be good.
John Mall on the other hand left with more questions than answers. In the double wing set Dylan Tenorio was the fullback, but it became was clear Saturday that he is the best runner of the group. Quarterback Clayton Berger had accuracy issues, finishing 6 for 20 for 55 yards passing. The receivers had drops. It was an ugly game for John Mall.
After the game I couldn't help thinking that the offense that John Mall ran may not be the best offense to fit the personnel. Tenorio just seemed like he needed to be the feature back (out of an I look?). From what I saw the Panthers have a long way to go to get back into the playoffs.
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