GAME OF THE WEEK: Perry football hosts East Coweta in final non-region game

After dispatching Veterans 38-0 last week, Perry (3-1) turns their attention to the East Coweta Indians (2-2) on Friday.

Here are three things to watch in Friday’s matchup:

1. Keying in on the run

East Coweta is not a team that attacks through the air regularly. They’ve thrown 14, 17, 20 and 13 pass attempts in their first four games, and have only hit 100-plus yards passing in two games this season.

That’s part of the reason they have, statistically, a below average offense that sits at 21.75 points per game.

Senior quarterback Cohen Peeples, for better or for worse, is a big part of that.

Peeples is a capable runner; He had seven rushing touchdowns last year which was second on the team. He gets opportunities in designed runs and can shake an arm tackle for extra yardage, but he’s not bulldozing anyone.

He puts a lot of air under the ball when he passes, even on short ones to the flat. It gets worse the farther he throws, but he can still hit a receiver in stride if they’re open enough. The Indians don’t ask him to attack down the field much, though. A lot of his passes come inside 10 yards.

East Coweta’s emphasis on the run is something the Perry front can take advantage of, according to Panthers’ football coach Kevin Smith:

“I think our front six on defense has been playing very well this year against the run. We haven’t given up a lot of rushing yards this year. I think we gave up 83 to Houston County, I think Baldwin had one long run on us,” Smith said. “[East Coweta] is a lot bigger up front than maybe what we’ve seen…they got a big offensive line that makes sure they get established in the run game.”

Ricky Howell Jr and Dural Thompson are the two go-to running backs. Howell, a sophomore, is currently the leading rusher with 47 carries for 228 yards. He brings the speed to the equation as he bursts through holes for potential big gains.

Thompson is the resident power back who can push through and fall forward for a few extra yards. The senior has a strong stiff arm and good size at 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds.

Senior center Ethan Colton helps push East Coweta through their runs. At 5-foot-8 and 264 pounds he has pancaked plenty of defenders this season while run blocking. While that size helps him a lot in that aspect, he’s not a great pass blocker. He doesn’t shuffle well and is vulnerable to quicker players.

The Indians’ rush attack has productive members, but none that look exceptional. If Perry can cover the field like they did against Houston County, it’ll be hard for East Coweta to move the ball.

2. On the other hand…

The offense is one thing, but the Indians’ bread and butter is in their defense.

The most points they’ve allowed this season is 28 for an average of 20.25. They held their Week 4 opponent, Lovejoy, to six points in their only blowout (30-6) of the season. They also held Sandy Creek to 20 in Week 1. Two of their games have been decided by one score.

A senior-laden front seven led by senior linebacker Lucas Naquin is paramount to that effort.

Naquin is 6-foot-1, 210 pounds and most often found at inside linebacker. He leads his team with 52 tackles (32 solo, 13 per game), three tackles for a loss and five quarterback hurries.

The 2023 First-Team All-Region member is a very sound tackler and a great run defender. He fills gaps well and doesn’t commit to one too early allowing him to make the “right play” often. He’s also capable of shaking offensive linemen at the second level to make a play on the ball carrier. 

When dealing with Naquin and other members of the Indians’ front, staying on blocks will be paramount.

“The big thing’s for our offensive line, we got to stay on blocks. We get to the right person, but a lot of times we don’t stay on blocks and it’s going to be key against them,” Smith said.

Dylan Holston and Derrion Horsley are two members of the secondary that keep coverage solid for the Indians.

Holston, though light for the position listed at 6-foot and 145 pounds, leads the team with eight pass deflections. He doesn’t seem to be asked to press often, but will more often use his length to get into the play and break a pass up.

Horsley has tallied three pass deflections, an interception and a blocked field goal so far this season. He’s got a similar build to Holston at 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds, and also uses his length to get into plays.

3. Continued growth

The Panthers’ best offense will likely always be found on the ground with a fantastic backfield featuring Ahmad Gordon and Decorrion Daniels.

However, Cullen McDaniel and the passing offense had their best statistical performance against Houston County with 313 passing yards. Kiel Sparks and Kory Pettigrew had 194 and 118 yards receiving respectively. Though the Indians’ secondary has been solid, this could be another game where McDaniel is asked to stretch the field against a stout run defense.

Smith mentioned the secondary as another group he wants to see improve as the Panthers wrap up region play.

“We just gotta continue to get better in the secondary. I thought we played a lot better in the secondary [against Veterans]. They tried to stretch the field on us a few times and our corners are starting to step up and get a little more game confidence, and they’re playing better,” Smith said.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 in the Panther Pit.