Atlanta Rabbits (0-1)

vs.

Gladewater Bears (1-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Jack V. Murphy Stadium, Gladewater

Coaches

  • Atlanta: Matt McClure
  • Gladewater: John Berry

Last week

Next week

  • Atlanta: vs. Pleasant Grove, Sept. 14
  • Gladewater: vs. Center, Sept. 14

Players to watch

Atlanta

  • RB Jawan King, Sr., 5-10, 180
  • QB/DB Andrew Samples, Sr., 5-11, 185
  • OL/DL Shun Hunter, Sr.
  • WR/DB Kade Wood, Jr.
  • WR/DB Jordan Brigham, Jr., 5-11, 162
  • RB/DB Dra Nelson, Jr.
  • OL/DL Cade Fant, Jr., 6-0, 225

Gladewater

  • RB Eli Carter (26 carries, 275 yards, 2 TDs)
  • QB Tristan Holmes, So., 5-8, 155 (8-of-11, 178 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs)
  • WR T.C. Minter, Sr., 6-2, 185 (6 catches, 130 yards, 2 TDs)
  • RB/DB Christian Holmes, Sr., 5-8, 150 (8 carries, 81 yards, 2 TDs)
  • LB Rashaud Johnson, Sr., 5-8, 190 (13 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT)

Just the facts

  • Gladewater is already halfway to its win total from 2017 after an impressive 61-30 victory against Spring Hill in Week 1.
  • The Bears totaled 670 yards against Spring Hill (492 rushing and 178 passing).
  • Atlanta running back Jawan King committed to Rice this offseason over offers from Texas State, UTSA, Louisiana Monroe and more.
  • The series is an even 4-4 since 2006.
  • Atlanta took last season's game, 34-16.

Key matchup: Atlanta front against the Gladewater rushing attack. Gladewater doesn't try to disguise its offensive attack. The Bears are very much a run-heavy team. They had four players who rushed for more than 80 yards against Spring Hill. None had a more prominent role than Eli Carter, who finished with nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns.

Gladewater DE/FB Keston Wilson. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
Gladewater DE/FB Keston Wilson. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
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Atlanta will need to call upon Shun Hunter, Cade Fant and company to slow down the Bears' rushers. Gladewater likely won't have the success it did against Spring Hill, but if it can stay consistent and earn 150-200 yards on the ground, it could end up with another victory this week.

Atlanta RB Jawan King. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
Atlanta RB Jawan King. (© Clint Buckley, ETSN.fm)
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Don't be surprised if: This one ends up a shootout. Atlanta and Gladewater combined for 102 points in Week 1. The Rabbits scored 41 in a loss of Gilmer. Atlanta has the tools on offense in King, quarterback Andrew Samples and receivers Kade Wood and Jordan Brigham to put up big numbers again. The Bears showed they can produce at a high level this past week. Furthermore, but defenses gave up at least 30 points. Expect a lot of offense in this one.

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