Crescent-News.com - Friday preview: Archbold, Fairview putting their potent offenses on display

By KEVIN EIS

If the first two weeks of the 2008 high school football season have proven anything thus far, it is the fact that Archbold and Fairview have had little trouble getting into the end zone.

While the Blue Streaks have averaged 43.5 points per game, the Apaches have proven that their offense is more than a force to be reckoned with with an average of 66 points per game.

With two weeks of the current campaign in the books, Fairview has notched a 55-30 win over Wauseon while topping Woodmore 83-52 in what was Ohio's highest-scoring game in 85 years and the fourth-highest in the state's history.

In short, these two teams can score.

As the Week 3 slate looms just a day away, the Streaks and the Apaches will risk their 2-0 records when the two northwest Ohio offensive powers collide at "The Reservation."

With Archbold getting things done on the ground and Fairview boasting a threatening air assault, will this game shape up to be a classic battle between the run and the pass?

"I think what it really comes down to is turnovers and penalties," stated longtime Archbold head coach John Downey, whose Streaks dropped a close 48-42 loss to the Apaches a year ago. "That's what happened last year. They got one more turnover and that really was the difference in the ballgame."

Fairview first-year mentor David Robinson respects the Blue Streaks' abilities on the ground in contrast to his team's passing style.

"Archbold runs a lot out of our formation," he said. "They like to run the spread formation but I think they'd rather run the ball than throw the ball."

And running the ball is something Archbold has done well.

The heart of Archbold's offense begins with the senior duo of quarterback David Rupp and running back Jacob Fidler. In the pair of Blue Streak victories, Rupp has demonstrated versatility though the air and on the ground, averaging 103 yards passing and 118 yards rushing per game. In total, the senior signal-caller has called his own number for five rushing touchdowns while also throwing for a pair.

Fidler has been equally impressive with 39 attempts through two games, the 5-10, 190-pound senior back has racked up 255 yards for a pair of touchdowns and an average of 127.5 yards per game.

"They have a nice compliment around them which enables them to make plays," noted Downey of his offensive leaders. "They just don't make plays on their own, they do it with the help of their entire team concept. They run, they compliment each other very well and they are both good runners who are tough to bring down.

Stopping the Blue Streaks' dynamic duo is something Robinson knows will be crucial in order to keep the Archbold offense in check.

"They're two of the best running backs around," lauded the Fairview head coach. "We're definitely going to have to honor that and take that away first. But on the other hand when they want to throw it, it will present a problem just like how our passing attack presents a problem for other people."

When the Apaches have possession, they will look no further than senior quarterback James Elchinger.

In just two games, Elchinger has broken the 1,000-yard passing mark, going 51-of-67 for an incredible 1,037 yards and 14 touchdowns, giving him a passing average of 518.5 yards per game.

Nine of the Fairview signal caller's strikes came last week against Woodmore, tying a state record for touchdowns in a single game set by none other than former teammate Ryan Radcliff in 2006 and another former Apache, Kirk Jesse, in 2005. In addition, Elchinger's 625-yard game last week puts him third in single-game yardage behind Radcliff's 678 and 650-yard outings.

Downey insist that Elchinger's ability to make plays on the ground is almost as much a threat as the Fairview passing game.

"From a defensive perspective, I think it's a little more difficult in the fact that he's obviously going to run it a lot more and he's not afraid to scramble," commented Downey on Elchinger. "I think it brings just that much more you've got to worry about."

Another facet of the Apaches' offense to worry opposing defenses is the stable of receivers which make ample targets for Elchinger to choose from. Leading the tribe of Fairview receivers this season has been Ben Wonderly with 15 catches for 380 yards, including 240 last week alone, with four touchdowns.

Also putting up big numbers are receivers John Elchinger (231 yards, 2 TD), Nathan Yoder (194 yards, 3 TD), Andrew Woenker (168 yards, 3 TD) and Rodney Webb (92 yards, 2 TD).

As his teams prepares to battle the Apaches on the field, Downey could not agree more.

"This is why you play high school football," he concluded. "This is a fun game, it has tremendous computer points. The winner, I think, is a lock to get in. If you can take care of business the rest of the season, the team that wins this will probably host a first-round game."