Arp’s Rushing Attack Faces Tough Elysian Fields Defense

Arp Tigers (1-1)
vs.
Elysian Fields (1-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Jacket Stadium, Elysian Fields

Coaches
Arp: Dale Irwin
EF: Eric King

Last week
Arp: def. Paul Pewitt, 40-6
EF: lost to Jefferson, 21-20

Next week
Arp: vs. Troup
EF: idle

Playmakers
Arp

ATH Michael Roberson, Sr., 5-9, 165 (9 carries, 182 yards, 3 TDs; 5 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD; 12 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
RB Marcalas Johnson, Soph., 5-9, 175 (27 carries, 167 yards, 2 TDs)
QB Chase Bonner, Jr. (15 of 23, 222 yards, 3 TDs)
RB Mikechell Potts, Sr., 5-7, 155 (23 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD)
RB/LB John Hawkins, Jr., 6-1, 195 (6 carries, 25 yards; 21 tackles)
DB Andre Summers, Sr. (7 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
TE/LB Jeremy Shelton, Sr. (2 catches, 42 yards, 1 TD; 6 tackles, 1 INT)
TE/DE Sam Stroupe, Sr., 6-2, 205 (1 receiving TD; 6 tackles)

Elysian Fields

QB Trevor Spear, Sr., 5-10, 175 (13 of 20, 190 yards, 2 INTs; 20 carries, 190 yards, 4 TDs)
LB Bruce Woods, Sr., 5-10, 180 (20 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks)
LB Tanner Norman, Jr., 5-10, 185 (32 tackles)
WR Nathan Hall, Sr., 5-10, 180 (3 catches, 50 yards)
WR/DB Christian Smith, Sr., 6-1, 185 (4 catches, 69 yards; 19 tackles, 3 for loss)
RB Tanner Davis, Jr., 5-10, 180 (19 carries, 136 yards, 1 TD)
WR Zane Barge, Sr., 5-9, 170 (3 catches, 97 yards)
DL Braden Jett, Jr., 5-10, 205 (20 tackles, 2 forced fumbles)
LB Lonzo Macon, Sr., 5-11, 180 (25 tackles, 2 for loss)
SS T.J. Clark, Jr., 6-1, 190 (21 tackles)

Just the facts

Elysian Fields has allowed 20.5 points per game during its first two games
Arp has allowed 23.5 points per game during its first two games
Elysian Fields and Arp have played eight times since 2000, with EF holding a 5-3 advantage in that span
Elysian Fields has won the past two meetings (2006 and 2007) by scores of 12-7 and 34-7
Arp averages 233.5 rushing yards per game and 111.0 passing
Through two games, Elysian Fields' Bruce Woods is one-fifth of the way to his 2011 sack total of 15

Key matchup: Arp's running game vs. Elysian Fields' defensive front. Arp has a three-headed monster with Marcalas Johnson, Mikechell Potts, and Michael Roberson, who won't take as many carries as the previous two but is the big-play back with an impressive 20.2 yards per carry. Arp averages more than twice as many rushing yards as it does passing, so the it's obvious that the Tigers predicate their offense on the ground attack. Elysian Fields knows that and will counter with a defense that returns 10 starters from last year's unit. The lone departee is Texas A&M-bound defensive tackle Isaiah Golden (6-2, 315), who moved to Carthage during the spring. Nevertheless, Bruce Woods, Clay Vance, Tanner Norman, and the rest of EF's front seven will be tasked with containing Roberson, Potts, Johnson, and the rest of the Tigers' ground game, which averaged 6.4 yards per carry in last week's 34-point win against Paul Pewitt, and 7.1 per attempt in Arp's 41-21 season-opening loss to Tatum.

Don't be surprised if: This one goes down to the wire. Fans heading to Jacket Stadium for this matchup should be in for a treat, even if each team already has a loss on its ledger. Elysian Fields' 21-20 loss to Jefferson gave the Yellow Jackets a great test against the run with the Bulldogs' Deion Williams, so EF should be better prepared to face Arp's multi-back rushing approach. But it isn't only Arp's running game to keep an eye on; Elysian Fields quarterback Trevor Spear and tailback Tanner Davis have combined for an average of 163.0 rushing yards per game so far this season. Arp must also contend with EF's group of receivers, who are experienced and have big-play potential. Friday's game should be a treat for fans on both sides.