AUBREY CHAPARRALS
Fresh off a come-from-behind win in Week 6, the 2-3 Aubrey Chaparrals hit the road in Week 7, traveling to Eagle Stadium to tango with the 5-0 Decatur Eagles on Friday.
The Eagles roll into the matchup as the No. 3 ranked team in 4A Division I, with recent wins over Ranchview, 63-7, and Lake Dallas, 47-35.
“They’re an outstanding football team from top to bottom,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “The glaring thing to me is that they have no real weaknesses in any of the three phases—offense, defense or special teams—so we’re going to have to earn everything during the game in all three [areas] to have success.”
Decatur’s offense comes into the contest averaging 56 points per game, spearheaded by quarterback Will Chaney, who has thrown for over 1,400 yards and has 20 total touchdowns through the first five games.
The unit also deploys a plethora of weapons at the skill positions headlined by the receiver duo of Wyatt Dunn and Henry Montgomery, who have combined for over 900 yards receiving and 18 TDs.
Despite the Eagles’ talent at the skill position, Ivy said it’s the play in the trenches that he thinks will be the most crucial for the Chaps’ defense.
“That’s going to be the biggest key matchup between our defense and their offense,” he said. “They lean more toward the pass, about 60% pass to 40% run, so we’re going to have to try to get some pressure on that quarterback, and that’s not going to be easy to do. We have to create some pressure and win up front more times than we don’t.”
Ivy added that winning the turnover battle is another key area for the Chaps’ chances of pulling off the upset.
“Our defense has to create turnovers,” he said. “We forced three turnovers and didn’t give the ball up in the second half against Springtown, which was a big turning point in the game, so against a team like Decatur that’s so high-powered offensively, we need to have a few extra possessions by taking the ball away when we have the chance.”
On the other side of the ball, Ivy highlighted the play of the Chaps offensive line and said the unit will need to continue playing well against a leaky Decatur defense that is surrendering over 30 points a game to opposing offenses so far this season.
“I was really proud of our offensive line getting in there and matching Springtown’s physicality, and Springtown could be the best defense we see all season,” he said. “We wore them down with our size, and by the second half those 2- and 3-yard runs started turning into 5-, 6- and 7-yard runs instead, and we’ll need that again this week.”
Ivy emphasized that the contest could have major implications for deciding which team will find itself at the top of the district.
“In our mind this game, for all intents and purposes, is for the district championship,” he said. “We know we have several games after this, but we believe the road to the district championship goes through Decatur, and we’re going to have to go to their place and take it from them, and as long as we’re better this Friday than we were last week, then we’ll have every opportunity to go there and leave with a win.”
The Chaparrals and Eagles are set to square off at 7 p.m. Friday at Eagle Stadium in Decatur.
