One week after a win over rival Mahar, the Athol football team will have to deal with its weakness Friday: a team that can throw the ball with precision.
“If I looked at us on film,” Athol coach Bill LaRose said. “I’d be throwing the football. We have to play better pass defense.”
With a trip to Easthampton at the confines of White Brook Middle School, the Red Raiders will face quarterback Nick Pellegrini, who has poise and touch under center.
“They are a cross between a winged-t and a spread team,” LaRose said. “The kid (Pellegrini) can throw the ball.”
The Eagles boast two gifted wide receivers in Quintin Baker-Cisero and Damien Diluzio.
The focus of the Red Raiders’ defense in Easthampton’s passing game will be Baker-Cisero.
“He’s pretty dangerous in the open field,” LaRose said. “We have to know where he is at all times. They run that shotgun, but a lot of the blocking schemes our kids know so I don’t think they’re going to fool us with anything there.”
The Eagles can run the ball as well, so the worry about the dual threat is there. Running back Jacob Neumann has looked very good in the Eagles’ backfield.
The Red Raiders have been effective stopping the run, with Manny O’Lari in the middle of the defensive line and Dylan Castine from the middle linebacker position.
The secondary, which has improved from game to game, has another challenge ahead against the Eagles.
“Our secondary is starting to come,” LaRose said. “Our pass coverage was as good as its been all season last week. I think we are ready.”
The Eagles (2-1, 2-0 Intercounty North) gave up 102 points over its first two games, but shut down Franklin Tech in a 19-2 win last week.
Easthampton had a difficult time stopping Mahar’s Joey Brozell, so Castine could get his fair share of touches.
But the running of Mason Barrieau and Keegan Lutz should be the focal point for the Red Raiders’ offense.
The combination of Barrieau and Lutz’s speed coupled with Castine’s power could prove troublesome for the Eagles.
Barrieau took off on two fake punts for long runs last week against Mahar.
“I don’t think I can find anymore interesting ways of getting him (Barrieau) the ball,” LaRose said. “Both Mason and Keegan know how to get to that edge and make things happen.”
