Going For #26 In A Row

Heading into the two game road trip, Columbus East knew they were going to find multiple answers to multiple questions, whether those answers be good or bad.
    Now after the two game road swing, what Columbus East thought is exactly what happened, as the O's found out many answers, some good and bad, to many questions surrounding the team over the past couple of weeks.
    The O's found out that their defense has a lot of work to do, after Floyd Central almost racked up over 400 yards of total offense, but they found out that they are able to win a four quarter physical game.
    Columbus East found out that Gunner Kiel is not just a passing quarterback, but he is lethal running the football as well.
    Andrew Wilson proved that he is capable of being the "physical" runner that I have touted him to be since July, and he proved he was capable of being the "physical" runner a while ago to myself…it is just about time that others realize that as well.
    O's faithful also found out that they have a team that doesn't give up, and a team that doesn't point a finger at one another.

 The Floyd Central game could have easily been a Highlander victory, because the O's could have simply gave the game away.  Fumbling the ball on the opening kick-off, failing to convert a crucial third down and nine in the fourth quarter; the O's were ripped to be an upset victim.
    Instead, the team persevered through the adversity, and they made the big plays when they had to be made. Columbus East is 5-1 and sitting atop the Hoosier Hills Conference with an unblemished record because of the great resilience this team has shown.
    Now, Columbus East will look to continue it's great play against the Madison Cubs, a team that will have all sorts of struggles in trying to stop the O's Friday night.
    This is a game that everyone puts down as a "easy win", but at the same time it is that type of game we find out a lot about a team’s character.
    It is easy to get hyped up for the Columbus North game, but it isn't so easy getting hyped up for the Madison game. Columbus East will have to bring the "big game attitude" with them Friday night, regardless of what many people are saying about the Cubs.
    Yes, Columbus East Head Coach Bob Gaddis is 10-0 against the Cubs with his team averaging 51 points a game in those ten games, compared to Madison's 8 points per game in that same stretch, but that still doesn't mean East can sleep-walk to an easy win.
    I don't care how bad a team is, or how bad a team appears throughout the course of a season, any team can be beaten on any given day.
    Let's go ahead and get to my three keys to victory for Columbus East to come out with a win against the Madison Cubs tomorrow night.
1. Luke Hampton with a Bounce Back game
    - I think this is more of a statement than a key, but Luke Hampton had a rough game a week ago. I mention on my show tomorrow, every player has that one bad game…as Luke found out last Friday.
    The good news for Luke is that one bad game is out of the way. Hampton is not the type of player that he showed last week, and anyone who thinks that is simply crazy.
    Hampton is the "X-factor" of the Columbus East offense due to everyone's ability above him. If Hampton can bring his A-game, along with his counterparts ahead of him, this offense is unstoppable.
    With a not so much "stellar" defense in Madison coming to town Friday night, look for Hampton to have a big bounce back game…and I mean BIG.
2. Defense needs to be PHYSICAL
    -Last week against Floyd Central, I was not happy with the performance of the Columbus East defense, as I expressed those feelings in my television show tomorrow.
    What really got to me, as well as many others, is the lack of physical toughness on the defense. It seems like no one on the defense wants to step up and be physical, while everyone wants to sit back and play soft.
    I really feel for Westin Cordier, Caleb Maley, Evan Staley, Jeremy Minor, and Eric Olds in the secondary, because all of them are having to make up for the mistakes up front, as Columbus East had pitiful pass rush and run defense against Floyd.
    Though, it was just one game against a pretty good offensive team in Floyd Central, but this team is better than what they have been showing.
    Columbus East, also, is a team that is still trying to get healthy. Columbus East has been without Eli Schoettmer for the past two weeks, and he plays a huge role on the Columbus East defense. Schoettmer's presence alone means a lot to this defense, and hopefully Schoettmer will be back for the game Friday night.
    Anyways, the defense has really been hampered by injuries, which is the only "excuse" they can lean on…still not a good enough excuse for me, let alone the coaches.
    They need to bounce back against a team they should dominate from start to finish Friday night.
3. Stay Healthy= Good Win
    -The Madison Cubs have about as good of a chance at beating the Columbus East Olympians, as the Chicago Cubs do at winning the 2010 World Series…that is no chance.
    The Cubs just don't have any answers for this Columbus East team, and they have been beaten by an average of 43 points when they play the O's.
    It is only a loss for Columbus East if they end up losing a key player to injury. If Columbus East can avoid the injury bug, then it will be a successful week seven for Columbus East.
Prediction
    -If anyone from Madison is reading this article, I am sorry I have to talk down about your Cubs. They just don't have any chance at beating the O's Friday night, and the game will not be a pretty one to watch for the Cubs faithful. This game could turn out to be like the game two years ago, when Columbus East won 75-14.
    Look for Columbus East to have a big game offensively with Gunner Kiel, Andrew Wilson, Luke Hampton, Cole Thompson, and everyone else having a big night.
    I think the O's score a lot of points offensively and look for the Columbus East defense to get a touchdown or two…may even get a special team’s touchdown.
    Look for Columbus East to route the Cubs Friday night, a game that will give the O's their 26th straight HHC win.   

Columbus East- 63
Madison- 6