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Sports

September 16, 2009

Chicks face another road test

Chuck Larsen

Chickasha goes on the road Friday to 4A Weatherford and will really have its hands full this week.

The fourth-ranked and senior-loaded Eagles are coming off two impressive road wins over two very good football teams, a 31-19 week one victory at 3A’s fifth-ranked Clinton and a 34-14 win at 2A defending state champion Heritage Hall last week.

Weatherford missed the playoffs with a 4-6 record last year – something unacceptable by the Eagles' standards – and are sending a statement to the rest of 4A that it is back.

They’re big, strong and fast. They have very good skill position players, led by two-way threat Jake Barrios at quarterback, running back Kale Sawatsky, a bruising fullback in tailback’s clothing, and speedy wideout Blane Boyd.

Their swarming defense held the Hall to just 195 total yards last week as they kept constant pressure on Charger quarterback Cale Courtney and held Barry Sanders, Jr. to under 100 yards, with about 25 of them coming late in the game against the second team.

As Chicks fans know, they’ll go in without Chance Thomas, but linebacker Brandon Hill is questionable after being held out of practice following minor out-patient surgery on Monday. Tailback Drake Morris will be out with a partial ACL tear and backup tailback Cleve Nolden is ineligible due to grades.

The Chicks still have Jacob Rangel, Jonathan Skinner and Myron Euwins, but Morris has carried the load running the ball so far and will be sorely missed.

“We’re going to go out there and do the best we can with what we’ve got,” Chickasha coach Rick VanCleave said about the situation his Chicks are in this week.

“If we can play good defense and Chase (junior quarterback Rodgers) can keep us in it, we’ve got a shot. We’re trying to stay as optimistic as possible.”

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