Eureka closing in on 7B football championship
Lions coming off impressive 29-6 win at T-Falls; Troy next
Ranked, undefeated in league play, and a chance to host a playoff game with one more 7B victory.
Life is good in Eureka this football season.
The Lions, 3-0 in District 7B play and 4-1 overall, are coming off their best performance of the season, a 29-6 thumping of Thompson Falls last Friday night.
It was Eureka's first triumph over the Bluehawks in four seasons, and the first time in coach Ed Newell's nine years in Eureka that he won in Thompson Falls.
It might also be an omen of sorts as the last time Eureka beat Thompson Falls, the Lions went on to capture the district's regular-season title.
"I hope so," Newell said of having that happen, again.
"I just feel really good about our kids. We've overcome some injuries, some adversity. We're playing together as well as any team I've had in a very along time."
Against Thompson Falls, the Lions amassed 384 rushing yards. Chad Price
led the ground assault, racking up 217 yards on 29 carries. Dalton Williams was next with 164 yards on 29 attempts.
Williams had two TD runs in the first half - 6 and 16 yards - and Price two in the second half - 28 and 3 yards.
Eureka attempted just five passes, completing one for 34 yards to Williams.
The Lions did not turn it over, and had just four penalties.
"It was special," Newell said of his team's offensive showing.
"We had a time of possession for 29 minutes, 31 seconds, which means they would have had it for 18 minutes, 29 seconds."
And that was the game plan coming in - controlling the clock.
"They are a dangerous team, can mix it up," he said.
"If they don't have the ball, they can't score. That's our philosophy. We kept the ball and kept it out of their hands."
That will be the focus once again as Eureka hosts Troy tonight at 7. It's the final league game for the Lions, and the 7B title will be on the line.
Troy enters play 2-0 and 3-2.
"They have a good squad," Newell said of the Trojans.
"They have a great quarterback in Aaron Palmer. They try to put the ball in his hands, and they should. He's 6-3, 200. Not only is he a good runner, but a great athlete."
One Eureka defender that will try to keep Palmer in check is middle linebacker Ben Dechart. He led the Lions at Thompson Falls with 20 tackles.
"He's leading the state in tackles right now, I believe, with 92 in five games," Newell said.
"He has 43 unassisted (tackles) and 49 assisted."
He also has one sack.
"We don't stunt him much," Newell said of Dechart's sack total.
"We just let him read (the offense). He does a great job with that."
Troy is coming off a 33-0 victory over Plains/Hot Springs. The Trojans will end the regular season with another toughie - at Thompson Falls on Oct. 24. Eureka will host Darby, a member of 6B, on the same day.
"There have been good games," Newell said with Troy.
"We've beaten them over the years, some games were not as close as others, but we will have to play as well as we have all year to keep this thing going."
7B Standings
Eureka 3-0 4-1
Troy 2-0 3-2
Thompson Falls 1-1 3-2
St. Ignatius 0-2 2-4
Plains-Hot Springs 0-3 1-5
This Week
Today
7 p.m. - Troy at Eureka
Friday
Thompson Falls at St. Ignatius
Plains/Hot Springs at Deer Lodge
Last Friday
Eureka 29, Thompson Falls 6
Troy 33, Plains/Hot Springs 0
Florence 44, St. Ignatius 28