WEEK 2: Five players to watch on Friday night

Week 2 is here, the final week of the non-conference slate for teams in the SAC and Northeast Eight. Each Friday we will point out five players you should keep an extra eye on in the week’s games.

They may be guys in big games, players who excelled last week or guys who need to step up this week.

In any event, here are the five guys to watch out for tonight.

ANDREW FURTHMILLER (COLUMBIA CITY at Northridge)

The head of Columbia City’s defense a week ago, Furthmiller tallied six tackles (two for loss) and a co-team-high three sacks as the Eagles opened the season with a dominant win. That kind of presence is going to be important as the Eagles take on Northridge, a team that put up a program-record 62 points in Week 1 against West Noble.

DERYAN GORDON (CHURUBUSCO vs. Bluffton)

Churubusco’s offense is relying on a lot of younger guys, as seen in Week 1’s loss to Bremen. At the forefront of the Eagles’ 37 rushes as a team were 13 from Gordon that he turned into 118 yards and one of Busco’s two scores. The junior had a game-best run of 54 yards and it gives the Eagles something to build on heading into Week 2.

ELI TRENT (CONCORDIA at Eastbrook)

Trent was Mr. Everything in the Cadets’ Week 1 win, which was a big one to start momentum for their final season in the SAC. Trent went to the air to seven different targets and finished with 173 yards and three TDs, with two of those going to Mike Henley. But Trent also put his legs to work, rushing for a game-best 193 yards and two more scores. Concordia will need more of the same from Trent tonight at Eastbrook.

CHARLIE FAUROTE (BELLMONT vs. South Adams)

The Braves went to the air early and often in their week one loss to Madison-Grant. But flirting with a win has to have Bellmont in a better mindset as they battle county foe South Adams. Faurote completed 12-of-21 passes for 233 yards including an 85 yard pass to Cole Barger.

COOPER WEISENAUER (ANGOLA vs. DeKalb)

The junior made big waves defensively in week one’s win over Goshen. He had two solo tackles, but assisted on a team best 14 tackles on the night. He also secured an interception for the Hornets. Angola is heading into a meeting with a DeKalb team that put up 49 points last week, so the Hornet defense is going to need to sting sharply.