Etowah Aims to Rebound Against Physical Chapel Hill Squad

Scouting the Panthers

The Chapel Hill Panthers were idle last week, but they’re looking to build momentum and secure their second win of the season on Friday night. The key to their success is Nehemiah “Nemo” Ackey, who will make his presence felt on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Ackey is a punishing runner between the tackles, setting the tone for the Panthers’ ground game. Defensively, he’s just as valuable at safety, where his physical tackling and ability to lock down receivers make him a dangerous two-way weapon.

Scouting the Eagles

The Etowah Eagles come in looking to bounce back after a tough five-point loss to Campbell. Quarterback Zeke Douglass continues to be the centerpiece of the Eagles’ offense. The dual-threat signal-caller has thrown for 614 yards and 6 touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with 257 yards and 4 scores. Drake Mason and Mike Goines have chipped in 174 combined rushing yards, while Walker Hughes has emerged as Douglass’ top target with 11 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown. Brady Slaats has also been productive, adding 6 receptions for 75 yards and 2 scores.

Etowah’s offense is slightly tilted towards the air, averaging 204.7 yards per game passing and 163.3 yards per game on the ground. On defense, Oliver Creigh is the heartbeat of the unit, racking up 33 total tackles, while defensive end Cooper Hendrix has been disruptive up front with 3 sacks.

Pundit's Pick

This game was a back-and-forth battle last year, and we suspect Chapel Hill will try to pound the ball on the ground to test Etowah’s defensive front. The question: can the Panthers slow down Douglass? If not, it could be a long night. We think Etowah’s ability to throw the ball on offense and their explosive playmaker at quarterback will be the difference.

Prediction: Eagles by 10.