Somebody’s ‘0 must go
Both the host Amboy/LaMoille Clippers and visiting Bureau Valley Storm will put their 2-0 undefeated records on the line when the two Big Rivers Conference powerhouses square off Friday night at the Harbor in Amboy.
Bureau Valley is coming off of a 22-0 week one shutout win against Port Byron Riverdale and a 53-12 week two drubbing of River Valley. The Storm enter the contest ranked No. 1 in Class 2A by the Associated Press.
Amboy/LaMoille, who holds the number 11 A.P. ranking in 2A, also blew out River Valley 42-0 in week one, and outlasted a stingy St. Bede squad 13-6 in week two action, as they overcame an early 6-0 deficit to the Bruins.
One of the keys for coach Jeff Ohlson’s Storm will be stopping Clipper tailback Cody Richardson. Richardson scooted for 206 yards on 21 carries, including a 51-yard touchdown scramble, in week one against River Valley.
Last week, St. Bede was able to hold Richardson to 45 rushing yards on 19 carries, but he still managed to find his way into the end zone twice, with a 29 yard touchdown reception and two-yard punch-in run.
“You’ve got to be able to stop Richardson and their run game, they’re going to try to establish the run from the start,” Ohlson said.
Likewise, the Clippers will have their hands full trying to stymie the Storm rushing attack, led by senior fullback Michael Weidner, who amassed 167 yards on 19 carries in week one and 101 yards with two touchdowns in week two.
Joining Weidner in the Storm’s talented backfield is running back Alex Franklin and quarterback John King, who have both helped Bureau Valley average 307.5 rushing yards in each of their first two contests.
The game plan for both squads will likely be to implement their grinding run attacks, and control both the clock and field position.
“We’ve got to take care of the football and control time of possession, because that’s what Amboy is going to do,” Ohlson said. “If you get into a tight ballgame and turn the ball over and give up good field position, things come back to haunt you.”
Both defenses have been limiting opportunities to their competitors the past two weeks, with Bureau Valley giving up only 12 points in their first two games, and the Clipper co-op allowing only six, all of which came on a St. Bede 59-yard touchdown reception on their first offensive play last week.
Ohlson said that his team is ready for the week three matchup in the always tough Big Rivers, where “every week is a championship game.”
“It’s obviously going to be a good game. Both teams are 2-0, and have played similar competition,” Ohlson said. “It should be an exciting ball game.”
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