GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Hurricane (0-2, 0-0) at Legacy, Nev. (0-0, 0-0)
Previous Meeting – Hurricane 43, Legacy 34 (Aug. 31, 2012 at Hurricane)
Broadcast: None
TIGERS
Classification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Chris Homer (12th year, 85-46 overall)
Offense: Wing-T
Last game: Lost to Stansbury 34-21
Players to watch: The pressure is going to be on the defense this week. Legacy has long been known for great running backs and a powerful rushing game, so Jeremiah Ieremiah will get a workout on defense trying to slow the Longhorns rushers out of the old-school I-formation. Meanwhile, there should be more room to roam as the Hurricane offense begins to form an identity with Adlai Elison at the helm. J.D. Stansworth played well at fullback late in the game against Stansbury.
PPG: 13.5
PAPG: 31.0
Trend: Two double-digit losses to start the year is not what Hurricane fans have come to expect (remember the 20-game win streak?). But considering the opponents and the youthfulness of the team, it’s not a surprise. In fact, the third quarter comeback from 21-7 down to tie the game was inspiring. The Tigers offense has been sputtering a bit, but there should be some running room this week.
LONGHORNS
Classification: Nevada Division 1-A, Southwest
Coach: Dave Snyder (8th year, 34-36 overall)
Offense: I-back
Last game: Lost to Palo Verde 28-16 in last year’s state quarterfinals
Players to watch: The Longhorns love to run the ball the old fashioned way, with a speedy tailback out of the I-formation and a fullback leading the way. Last year’s 1,700-yard back, Charles Julian has graduated, but Legacy likes the potential of RB Casey Hughes and the play action ability of QB Devin Williams. Also, kick returner DeMichael Walker is a potential Division I guy.
PPG: 31.5 (last year)
PAPG: 28.3 (last year)
Trend: This is the Longhorns first game, but Nevada coaches have voted them as No. 6 in the state and they have 12 starters back from their 5-5 team of last year, including QB Williams, so Legacy should be very competitive. Although the Longhorns gave up a lot of points last season (including 43 to the Tigers), they really started playing defense the second half of the year, allowing just 56 points the final five games (11.2 ppg).
GAME OUTLOOK
Legacy was a handful for the Tigers in last year’s game and Hurricane had a senior-laden team of athletes. Now, the Tigers are young and have yet to establish an identity. Advantage Legacy. Still, that third quarter and the all-around play of Ieremiah should give casual observers some deserved respect for Hurricane. The Tigers will probably throw more passes than the Longhorns and when is the last time that happened?
STGnews (record) PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (15-2) — Legcacy
Darren Cole (12-5) — Legacy
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Twitter: @oldschoolag
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