Old Abes may hold MHS' playoff hopes in hands
By Brett Hart, Sports Editor
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 12:08 PM CDT
Thursday night’s Big Rivers Conference football showdown between Menomonie (4-2, 3-1) and Eau Claire Memorial (0-6, 0-4) holds great importance for the Menomonie squad, which is hoping to secure a place in the WIAA playoffs. A win would secure a spot, while a loss would leave the Indians in a pinch as it faces Chippewa Falls (6-0, 4-0) and River Falls (5-1, 3-1) in its final two games of the regular season.
MHS coach Joe LaBuda said despite Memorial’s winless record, it is still a team that can defeat the Indians — given the opportunity — noting that it had a pair of near misses in the past three weeks and could easily be 2-4 right now.
On Sept. 9, the Old Abes gave up a late lead to lose to Eau Claire North (1-5, 1-3), 25-21, and last week, it moved the ball at will in a 26-20 loss to Rice Lake (2-4, 1-3). In its second game of the season, Memorial fell, 8-6, to now 12th-ranked La Crosse Logan (5-1, 2-1).
“They had a whole lot more yards against Rice Lake than we did,” said LaBuda, noting that Menomonie defeated the Warriors just 19-14.
And Memorial is showing great improvement, while Menomonie, which is ranked sixth in the Division 2 coaches poll, still lacks consistency. “We keep hurting ourselves with stupid mistakes,” said LaBuda.
Memorial brings a strong passing game with quarterback Zac Mestelle (6-2, 190) and receivers Dan Tainter (6-2, 170), Sam Sires (6-2, 160) and Alex Ayres (6-2, 175).
“The way we covered last week, that’s a major concern of ours,” said LaBuda, who hopes his team will be able to handle the distractions of parents’ night and senior night better that last week’s homecoming. “We better come to play. This is a very talented team.”
Heading up Memorial’s running game is a speedy sophomore phenom in Ricky Caldwell (5-11, 165) and senior Sam Fisher.
Luckily for the Indians, who picked up just 47 rushing yards last week, the Old Abes’ defense has struggled off and on this season. And LaBuda hopes his team can keep the shackles on Old Abe defensive lineman Greg Antonson (5-11, 230) who he said, “has been a thorn in our side for three years.”
Another player to watch on Memorial’s defensive line is Robert Stasney (6-0, 263).
“It’s going to be right down to the wire,” said LaBuda. |
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