White Oak Roughnecks (4-0)

vs.

Harmony Eagles (4-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Eagle Stadium, Big Sandy

Coaches

  • White Oak: Kris Iske
  • Harmony: Tim Russell
Last week
  • White Oak: def. Daingerfield, 43-36
  • Harmony: def. Quitman, 63-6

Next week
  • White Oak: idle
  • Harmony: idle
Playmakers

White Oak

  • ATH Heath Hood, Jr., 5-10, 170
  • DL/WR Elijah Trest, Jr., 6-2, 190 (committed to Arkansas baseball)
  • LB Caleb Hampton, Sr., 5-9, 175
  • WR/DB Brandon Cook, Sr., 5-10, 153
  • RB Connor Hearron, Sr., 6-0, 178
  • WR/LB Antonio Castiglione, Sr., 5-10, 180
  • LB Chase Reeves, Sr., 5-11, 175
  • WR/DB Colby Siegley, Jr., 5-11, 168
  • ATH Chandler Gordy, Jr., 6-0, 160
  • ATH Jacob Young, Soph., 5-7, 150

Harmony

  • WR/DB Konrad Eichelman, Jr., 6-1, 175
  • QB/LB Spencer Seahorn, Jr., 6-0, 200
  • OL/DL Jeremy Dawson, Sr., Sr., 6-1, 285
  • WR/DB Caleb Hart, Sr., 6-1, 165
  • OL/DL Waymon Lay, Sr., 6-4, 206
  • OL/DL Jeremy Dawson, Sr., Sr., 6-1, 285
  • RB/DB Mike Edmonson, Sr., 5-10, 160
  • WR/DB Jacob Kimmen, Sr., 6-2, 170
Just the facts
  • Friday's game is the non-district finale for both Harmony and White Oak.
  • The Eagles and Roughnecks were district opponents from 2008 to 2015. White Oak owned a 7-1 head-to-head record in the span.
  • Harmony's last win against the Roughnecks came in 2009. At Eagle Stadium.
  • White Oak is ranked seventh in the Associated Press' state-wide Class 3A poll. The Eagles are ranked eighth.
  • ETSN.fm's Class 3A Poll ranks Harmony fourth and White Oak sixth through four games played.
  • Harmony has outscored opponents, 222-71, and has put up at least 60 points in each of its past three games.
  • White Oak safety Brandon Cook is the current ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week. Quarterback Heath Hood won the offensive version of the award after Week 2.
White Oak's Elijah Trest (14) pressures Spring Hill quarterback Garrett Self during their game Sept. 11, 2015, in White Oak. (Trey Bell, ETSN.fm)
White Oak defensive end Elijah Trest (14) pressures Spring Hill quarterback Garrett Self during their game Sept. 11, 2015, in White Oak. (Trey Bell, ETSN.fm)
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Key matchup: Harmony's offensive backfield versus White Oak's collective defense.

The Eagles have been building up to a monster offense the past three seasons and its time has arrived. Not only has the unit scored more than 60 points in each of its past three games, it has dinged opposing defenses in every way fathomable.

Junior quarterback Spencer Seahorn, a three-year starter, is working with some great receivers. At the same time, he's a physical runner that could double as a linebacker in a worst-case scenario.

White Oak needs to be especially aware in short yardage situations. Seahorn takes simple sneaks on third and fourth-and-short and has converted several for significant gains. He is especially effective around the goal line.

Senior running back Mike Edmonson headlines a good stable of backs. He's a threat both through the interior of the offensive line and off tackle. Sometimes, he takes passes out of the backfield.

Fullback Nick Hoelscher adds to the passing game in addition to blocking for Edmonson and the occasional carry. Against Waskom two games ago, he caught for more than 100 yards on short routes underneath the coverage.

The Roughnecks, however, will likely be disruptive against the opposing backfield. They have 48 tackles for negative yardage in just four games. That's an average of 12 tackles for loss per game.

If White Oak penetrates Harmony's experienced offensive line effectively, the Eagles will have to turn toward the passing game more than usual.

The Roughnecks will be in stronger position to win late down battles if the Eagles have to throw more than normal.

Defensive end Elijah Trest, a junior Arkansas baseball commitment, has 37 tackles. More than that, seven of those tackles have been for negative yardage and he has averaged one forced fumble per game.

Outside linebacker Caleb Hampton has 37 tackles as well. Chase Reeves, at middle linebacker, has 49 tackles.

If Harmony breaks runs beyond White Oak's defensive front or goes to the pass, it will be difficult to get beyond safety Brandon Cook. The current ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week has 50 tackles as well as two of the team's five interceptions.

How do the Roughnecks have so impressive defensive stats so early in the season? Their offense scores. Fast.

 

Don't be surprised if: Harmony junior athlete Konrad Eichelman takes the next step in his high school career, win or lose.

Friday's game will be a big one for Eichelman, a three-year starter who doubles as a receiver and as a safety.

Offensively, he might be leaned on to advance the offense if White Oak does indeed cripple down the Eagles' running game. He's also the very last line of defense against Roughnecks quarterback Heath Hood's passing unit.

Hood has thrown for 1,457 yards and 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions through four games.

Harmony receiver and defensive back Konrad Eichelman. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
Harmony receiver and defensive back Konrad Eichelman. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
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