Eagles Looks to Snap Skid Against Surging Warriors

Scouting the Warriors

The North Cobb Warriors had little trouble with Wheeler on Friday night, downing the Wildcats by six touchdowns. North Cobb improved to 4-1 in region play, with its only blemish being a three-point loss to North Paulding. The Warriors are averaging 190.6 yards per game through the air and 208.4 yards per game on the ground.

Zach Belyeu has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, rushing for 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns with two regular-season games and the playoffs still ahead. Ben Haveli has thrown for 1,469 yards and 18 touchdowns. Micah Billingsleycontinues to lead the Warriors' receiving corps with 35 receptions for 398 yards and seven touchdowns. Iago Guimaraeshas added 11 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown.

North Cobb is averaging 37.5 points per game. Defensively, the Warriors are allowing 19.2 points per game and have recorded one shutout. Latavian James (45 total tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Jayden Harris (48 total tackles, 6 TFLs, 1 INT) lead the team in total tackles. Christian Williams leads the Warriors with 11 tackles for loss, while Keegan Vayens leads the team with six sacks. North Cobb has recorded 23 sacks and forced 11 turnovers this season.

Scouting the Eagles

The Etowah Eagles were off last week and are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Eagles are entering the toughest stretch of their schedule and will need to find a way to recapture the success they enjoyed early in the season. Etowah is averaging 36.5 points per game.

Dual-threat quarterback Zeke Douglas has thrown for 1,135 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 648 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Walker Hughes (31 receptions, 434 yards, 5 TDs) and Nick Pacini (14 receptions, 266 yards, 3 TDs) lead the team in receiving. Running back Kingston Ceasar has contributed nine receptions for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Ceasar is also closing in on his first 1,000-yard rushing season, having totaled 927 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Etowah defense continues to be led by Shamarion McClaurin and Ben Gebhardt, who have recorded 59 and 43 total tackles, respectively. Donovan Pollard leads the team with eight tackles for loss, while Pollard and McClaurin lead the Eagles in sacks with 2.5 and three, respectively. Etowah has forced 11 turnovers this season.

Keys to the Game

North Cobb

• Establish the ground game behind Zach Belyeu, who has already rushed for 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Warriors want to control the clock and make Etowah defend the run for four quarters.

• Take advantage of Etowah's struggles defensively. North Cobb is averaging 37.5 points per game and should look to put pressure on the Eagles early.

• Make Etowah one-dimensional. Containing Zeke Douglas and limiting his ability to make plays with his legs will be critical.

  
  

Etowah

• Slow down North Cobb's rushing attack. The Eagles are allowing 34.6 points per game, and they cannot afford to let Belyeu and the Warriors dictate the tempo.

• Get Kingston Ceasar and Zeke Douglas going on the ground. Etowah needs to establish its running game to keep North Cobb's defense honest.

• Win the turnover battle. The Eagles have forced 11 turnovers this season, and creating extra possessions could be a difference-maker against a high-scoring opponent.

  
  

Pundit's Pick

Etowah's biggest challenge this season has been its scoring defense, which is allowing 34.6 points per game. If the Eagles are going to snap their losing streak, they will have to find a way to slow down North Cobb's powerful ground game. Offensively, Etowah has enough firepower to make this a competitive game, particularly with Ceasar and Douglas leading the rushing attack. However, we believe North Cobb's physical ground game will eventually wear down the Eagles and allow the Warriors to pull away in the second half.

Prediction: North Cobb by 13.