Week 6 is headed your way tonight and as always, each Friday we talk about five different players that you should keep an eye on. Maybe they did well last week? Maybe they have a favorable or intriguing matchup?
Here are the players to keep an extra eye on tonight:
ELI RILEY, NORWELL (at East Noble)
Don’t look now, but Norwell could be what we thought it was and a trip to Kendallville is a big proving ground.
Eli Riley (pictured) has been making good at testing the air and with the likelihood that Rowan Zolman is still out for East Noble, this is a week he could test those waters a little more comfortably. He threw it 16 more times last week in a lopsided rout of New Haven, but his ability to read gaps and break off big runs makes him dangerous if he can get by the East Noble front line. He had a 63-yard scamper last week on the ground and if he can establish himself throwing the ball tonight, another big one may be there.
EBON PERSON, WAYNE (vs. Snider)
The junior is going to be a big part of a Wayne defense that will work to fly around and make Snider second guess some of its offensive choices.
Last week was a letdown for Wayne with a one-point loss to South Side, but a big tell for the future of the Generals is how they respond with a winnable game against the Panthers, a program they have beaten just twice in the last 20 tries.
Person is going to make it very difficult for Snider to pass confidently. He flies around, gets to the ball and does a good job of getting his hand in the way at just the right moment.
COLIN COPE, GARRETT (at West Noble)
The Railroaders got handled last week by the NECC elite in Eastside, but this week could be an interesting affair.
West Noble has struggled and even though the Railroaders have not beaten the Chargers since 2017, this could be the year to go to Ligonier and do so.
Cope has been a steady presence for Garrett, even running for 100 yards in the loss to Eastside. The Railroaders are going to feed him and it will be up to him to power through the heavy contact that West Noble can bring or be spry enough to avoid it all together.
For Garrett to win tonight, Cope needs to have a solid game and his 120.5 yards per game on the ground indicate he won’t be easy to slow.
WADE MILLER, EASTSIDE (vs. Prairie Heights)
Make no mistake, this shouldn’t be a heavy lifting week on the road for the NECC small division kingpins, but we do expect big numbers. Miller has seen his receiving numbers inflate over his last two games and his speed and solid hands should present Prairie Heights with some serious issues, making him a prime target for Laban Davis.
Miller has played four games this year and in the last two he has 8 of his 11 receptions for 204 yards (of 239 on the season). If anyone is trending upward for the Blazers it is Miller heading into tonight.
JACOB SNYDER, WOODLAN (at Jay County)
Someone’s zero in the win column will go away and Woodlan desperately wants to get over the hump after some lashings. The Warriors are starting to find comfort in Snyder under center because he can be mobile when needed. He ran and threw for just over 50 yards each last week in a loss, but his consistency throwing the ball (16-of-24) wasn’t bad at all.
If the Warriors are able to push their throws and play the long ball game, Snyder’s numbers could inflate in this ACAC showdown.
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