The #2 (1A) Grundy Center football team will put its 44-game win streak on the line when it hosts #4 (1A) South Hardin in a battle of undefeated teams Friday.
Each team has won all its games by multiple scores, with neither team giving up more than 16 points to any opponent. Grundy Center coach Travis Zajac says he hopes his team gains an advantage in the trenches.
“Our offensive line continues to trend upward,” Zajac says. “We made some adjustments last week based around Clarion’s personnel. And I thought that we did a really good job of handling that from a scheme and communication standpoint. It’s taking those lessons taking another step forward this week and trying to exert your will a little bit, how often when you do possess the ball, we want to be able to run. But then we’ve got to protect effectively and know that Judd’s going to put the ball where it needs to go and our kids are going to catch it and protect it. We’ve got a lot of weapons. But like I said, ultimately it starts and ends with the play on the line of scrimmage.”
Spartan quarterback Judd Jirovsky and Tiger quarterback Peyton Welch have each made a name for themselves in Class 1A, being named to many Player of the Year watchlists.
South Hardin coach Nick Eller says he feels his skill position players match up well with Grundy Center’s and they’ll need to eliminate some mistakes made when the teams met last year.
“We’ve got a lot of good players, they do too, but I think we’ve got just as many, and we’ve got to use them all,” Eller says. “It can’t just be the Sam Benson show. Can’t just be a Cam Adams show. It’s gotta be by committee and everyone chipping in and keeping their defense honest and keeping their defense evened out where they can’t just focus on one guy or a rollover on top of one guy. So nothing surprising there, but we’ve gotta keep playing like we have been where we’re getting everybody the ball. Just play our style of football. That’s really what it’s gonna come down to. All the things that went on in last year’s game, it really just comes down to your basics of who blocks and tackles the best. And that would have been a huge difference for us last year in the game if we’d have done those two things better.”
The winner will gain sole possession of first place in 1A District 3.
The kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m.
