Friday, November 12, 1999
Edgewood's task biggest of the season
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Edgewood's triple threat: running backs David White, Ryan White and Danny Beiser.
(Yoni Pozner photo)
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Records can be deceiving, but Edgewood football coach Steve Channell isn't about to be fooled by Chillicothe's early-season performance.
The Cavaliers may have started at a mediocre 2-3, but they have won six in a row.
Undefeated Edgewood meets Chillicothe at 7:30 tonight at Cox Field in Xenia in a Division II, Region 8, semifinal game. The winner plays Lebanon or Kings.
“(Chillicothe is) 8-3 but plays in a league with mostly Division I teams,” Channell said. “Every team we've played this season has been bigger than us, but not as big as Chillicothe.”
For Chillicothe, big has meant better.
The Edgewood scouts who watched Chillicothe beat Dayton Carroll 14-7 were impressed with offensive linemen Nate Eddy (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) and David Grant (6-8, 355).
“They're a 50-50 team when it comes to running and passing,” Channell said. “They line up behind that line and make things happen.”
Brad Bates, a senior wide receiver, is sophomore quarterback Jimmy Skinner's favorite target. Irvin Scarville and Seth MacCarter are the primary running backs.
“Their big people take up a lot of space and come off the ball well,” Channell said. “They try to mix it up and get the ball to the Bates kid as much as possible.”
Linebackers Mike Gaweiek (6-3, 230) and Marshall Upshaw (6-1, 190) are the mainstays of a Chillicothe defense that has been tough against the run.
But because of Chillicothe's size, the Cavaliers lack speed, which is Edgewood's strength. The Cougars boast quick running backs David White, Ryan White and Dan Beiser.
“They have a couple of individuals with speed, but not like ours,” Channell said. “Some people think we look like a JV team. But once the whistle blows, they know differently.”
Channell won't change much for Chillicothe.
“At this time of year, we'll add a wrinkle or two,” Channell said. “We'll just try to do what got us here the best we can.”
This year's team has been a pleasant surprise.
“We graduated nine defensive and seven offensive starters,” Channell said. “Although we had to replace these kids, right now I'd say this is our best team in the last three years.”
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