Carroll, Delphi football teams in hog heaven

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Regardless of the Carroll and Delphifootball programs’ relative ups and downs over the years, the annual Bacon Bowl has remained competitive.

Each team has won twice in the past four seasons. Of the 17 meetings since 1994, seven have been decided by seven or fewer points. The teams play tonight at Berto Field.

“We’ve been drilling that in their heads all week long, the fact that we’re going to get their absolute best game come Friday night and we have to be ready to meet that challenge,” Carroll coach Steve Keown said. “We watched them on film and they have some kids who can flat-out make some plays.”

Delphi coach Josh Strasser will participate in his first Bacon Bowl as head coach, but is no stranger to the Carroll County rivalry having played for the Oracles.

“This is a time the entire community can come together in one location and kind of cheer on their favorite teams,” Strasser said. “It’s a neat little rivalry for the community and the fans. For the players, I think it’s just another game, another opportunity to get on the field and get after it.”

Carroll opened with a 41-19 victory over Tri-County on the strength of its running game. Jaden Reneau and Ryan Spesard combined to rush for 232 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries.

“We’ve been to 7-on-7s, but when we weren’t there, we were really drilling that we want to have balance in our backfield,” Keown said. “We want to have guys who can run the ball and not be predictable as to who they can key on.”

Most of Delphi’s offense in a season-opening loss to Central Catholic went through Ricky Windell, who caught 10 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Strasser said more diversity is needed.

“The game plan wasn’t even to get him the ball that many times, it just came about that he kind of popped open and (Jason) Sterrett was able to find him,” Strasser said. “Jason and the receivers are kind of working on some timing and we’re getting that fixed this week. When you change from a veer (offense) to the spread there is a timing issue you have to work out.”