Preview of the South East Ohio Athletic League

2003 in the South East Ohio Athletic League has potential to be a banner year. With four teams all staking claim to "league favorite" and one other in the running, the league could see as many as 3-4 teams qualifying for the playoffs. Individual previews for all 7 teams can be viewed in the "Scouting Reports" section. In this Preview I will detail my favorite match-up from each and every week.

Week Four - Logan AT Jackson - The purple and white have won four straight games against Jackson, including two at the Apple Bowl. But the Ironmen are no longer pretenders, but are now definite contenders behind Junior QB Jared Humphreys. The Ironmen will be balanced on offense, while the defense will be the key. If the D-Line returns to the form they had in the mid-'90s, this should be a dandy. Austin Rohr leads a solid Logan ground game, and Corey Spackey whould help Logan move the ball through the air. Look for a game that isn't decided until the fourth quarter, and for scores in the low 20s in this grudge map.

Week Five - Jackson AT Gallia Academy - This grudge match is one of the fiercest in Southeast Ohio. The Blue Devils have managed to take 5 straight victories against the Ironmen, including 2 wins in 1999. The Ironmen are due for a victory, but will need a stout defensive effort once again. The Blue Devils will have one of the league's strongest offenses, with an experienced offensive line and some of the best team speed. The quarterback tandem of Andre Geiger and Donnie Johnson will make the Blue Devils hard to prepare for, and Cody Caldwell, Tom Bose, and Aach Shawyer are great receivers. The Gallia Academy defense will be stout, and will test Jared Humphreys. Expect a barn burner, that will probably come down to the final position. If the Blue Devils score more than 25 points, they'll win the ball game. If Jackson can get to 20 before Gallia, it could be an end to the 5-game streak.

Week Six - Gallia Academy AT Marietta - The two co-champions face off once again, this time up the river in Marietta. The Tigers cupboard was nearly cleared, but is far from bare. A new offensive philosophy will put pressure on Junior QB Jason Schob. He will have a talented receiving corps and two solid running backs in Cam Amigo and Jason Watkins. A defense led by Ryan Boley and Watkins could be one of the league's best for a second straight year. Look for the Blue Devils speed and experience to be the difference, but not before getting all they can handle from the Orange and Black.

Week Seven - Jackson AT Marietta - The Tigers host another great match-up, as this time Jared Humphreys brings the Big Red into Tiger Country. The Tigers will need to pressure the Ironmen up front, forcing Humphreys out of the pocket and then effectively containing on the ends. The Tigers Defense should keep this one close, but in the end it will be the Ironmen's ability to stop the Tigers that could give them a victory.

Week Eight - Logan AT Athens - This game along with Jackson/Gallia comprise the league's two biggest rivalries. The Chieftains have dominated as of late, but a thin 7-0 margin of victory a year ago has brought this game back to the forefront in both teams minds. The Bulldogs are loaded, returning a solid offensive line, an experienced QB (Grant Gregory), and one of the league's top rushers (Chris Hewitt.) The defense was much improved in 2002, and will have to replace several top defenders. The Chieftains won last year by pitching a tent in the Bulldogs backfield and stopping Chris Hewitt at the line of scrimmage. The Chieftain defense should be even better than last year, and their motto for 2003 tells the tale: They can't win if they can't score.

Week Nine - Gallia Academy AT Athens - Last season the Bulldogs upset the homestanding Blue Devils who may have been looking ahead to week 10's showdown with Logan. This game feature's two high octane offenses with solid offensive lines. But the Blue Devils defensive line an backfield could be the difference. D-Ends Bose and Shawyer are great pass rushers, while Ben Doolittle is a great run stopper. The Blue Devil secondary of Geiger, Caldwell, Johnson, and Davis is as good as it gets. The Bulldogs will need to prove their toughness on the D-Line and will have to find some solid linebackers to slow down the Gallia offense. Expect points to be scored in this one, with Turnovers and key defensive stops to decide this one.

Week Ten - Gallia Academy AT Logan - A year ago the Chieftains clung to a 3-0 lead with two minutes to go before the Blue Devils intercepted a desperation Dave Ellis through and returned it for a TD to earn a 7-3 win. This year the Chiefs are looking to turn the tables and bring the title home. If the Chiefs have atleast seven wins before this one, they will have more than proved they are capable of stopping the Gallia Academy offense. However, the Blue Devils will be very quick and strong on the O-Line, and could give the Chieftain Defense one of their stiffest tests. Austin Rohr and Steve Call will play their final game in front of the home faithful, and look for the backfield duo to provide the offensive spark. It's to early to even begin to predict the outcome of this game, as history will show, it'll be a barnburner with league title implications.