The ability to stop the run will be put to the test this week for the Athol football team.
The Red Raiders’ (2-4, 1-3 Intercounty North) defense, led by Christian Casillas, Manny O’Lari and Dylan Castine have played the run very well all year.
This week they travel to Greenfield to play the Green Wave, who have one of the best running backs in Western Massachusetts in R.J. Byrd.
“He is a talented back,” Athol coach Bill LaRose said. “He is about 70 percent of their offense. He is good running inside and outside.”
Byrd and the Green Wave run a lot of I-Formation and give the ball to Byrd in a variety of different ways behind a fullback.
“We have to shut him down and set the edge,” LaRose said. “We had success against him last year, but he is a difference maker. He is everything you want in a high school tailback.”
Last week against Mahar, Byrd scored on runs of 94, 60 and 49 yards all before halftime and finished with 271 yards on 21 carries.
The performance against Mahar put Byrd over 1,000 yards for the season.
Meanwhile, Athol’s running game had a hard time getting going last week against Franklin Tech outside of a nifty 30-yard touchdown run by Keegan Lutz.
Red zone production was as issue last week as well for the Red Raiders.
Greenfield (4-2, 3-2) has wins over Woodstock Academy, Easthampton, Mahar and Franklin Tech.
