Weekend previews: Troy to host speedy Eureka
Speed kills … and the Eureka football team tries its best to utilize that strength to its advantage.
In last year’s meeting against Troy, the Lions rolled to a 50-14 victory with a dazzling offensive performance. QB Chad Price broke free on a 69-yard run for Eureka’s first touchdown that day.
In an early District 7-B showdown on Friday night, the Trojans will be hoping to create a much different result while keeping Eureka’s speedsters in check. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Troy.
“This is an eye-opener this week,” Troy coach Rich McElmurry said. “We know it’s going to be totally different from what we’ve been doing.”
The Trojans head into the game with a 2-0 record after beating up on the likes of Darby and Mission by a combined score of 88-6. The Lions, meanwhile, enter the contest with a 1-1 mark with the setback coming to perennial power Loyola Sacred Heart.
Eureka’s Price is back in the lineup this season and he scored an early TD on the Rams last weekend. But Loyola settled down and took the win, 26-13.
“He’s just a force by himself. He can throw the ball and it’s like, ‘see if anybody can catch me,’” McElmurry said. “He’ll create some problems for us. We just have to play smart and do our assignments.”
The Trojans have shown good balance offensively with the run vs. pass. Receivers Kody Hoffman and Brian Hammrich along with running backs Jake Alexander and Caleb Kelso all reached the end zone last week.
Troy’s offensive and defensive lines have been a force so far. Cullen Metz didn’t play in the second half of last week’s Mission game but McElmurry believed he would be back in action on Friday.
In Libby, the Loggers will play on the home field for a second straight week with Hamilton coming to town. The meeting represents the final nonconference tune-up game before Libby gets into Northwestern A play next week.
Loggers coach Neil Fuller has been getting a lot of players experience on the field. Libby (1-2) has shown flashes of offensive big-play ability, especially on Kelly May to Kody Berget connections. T.J. Benson is a major weapon out of the backfield and the line is capable of dictating a game.
Hamilton is coming off a 35-6 loss to Polson for its first setback this season. The Broncs actually held a 6-0 lead at halftime before the wheels fell off in the second half. Josh Brenneman hooked up with receiver Beau Maus for the team’s lone TD. Cody Noffsinger is a threat at running back for Hamilton.
In other sports action this weekend, the Lady Loggers volleyball team will head to Bonners Ferry, Idaho on Saturday for a tournament. Libby was scheduled to play at Whitefish on Thursday in a match played after presstime.
Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston has been encouraged by the team’s play so far this season although she said there are needed areas of improvement – primarily on the serve receive. After last weekend’s Anaconda tourney, she said, “I think the girls learned what they are actually capable of doing.”
Troy’s volleyball team will head to Missoula for a pair of matches. The Lady Trojans will face both Valley Christian and Loyola Sacred Heart on Saturday.
“We’ll have a full week of practice to gear up for that – Loyola, especially,” Troy coach Sandra Jansma said.
On the soccer field, Libby’s boys and girls teams will both play in Polson on Saturday in conference matchups. Both squads were scheduled to play Bigfork on Thursday in games after presstime.
The Polson boys are coming off a 2-0 shutout over Belgrade – a team the Loggers also defeated. The Pirates have an overall record of 2-1. Libby has won three of its four matches and has several offensive and defensive weapons. Crawford Dinning is coming off a two-goal performance in the team’s most recent victory over Columbia Falls.
For the girls, the Lady Loggers remain unbeaten at 3-0 after downing the Wildkats last weekend. Jaime Gilden and Anna Valentine have provided LHS with one of the top 1-2 offensive punches in the state. Polson enters the contest with a 1-2-1 record after falling to Belgrade, 3-0.
Zach Watson will be vying for a top finish at Saturday’s Libby Invitational. The shotgun start at Cabinet View Country Club is scheduled for 10 a.m.
The Logger cross country team heads back to Idaho this weekend for another meet. Libby will participate in the Farragut Invite.
Sports Schedule
Friday, Sept. 18
• Football: Hamilton at Libby, 7 p.m.
• Football: Eureka at Troy, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19
• Golf: Libby Invitational, 10 a.m.
• Girls Soccer: Libby at Polson, 1 p.m.
• Volleyball: Troy vs. Valley Christian at Missoula, 1:30 p.m.
• Boys Soccer: Libby at Polson, 3 p.m.
• Volleyball: Troy vs. Loyola Sacred Heart at Missoula, TBA
• Volleyball: Libby at Bonners Ferry, Idaho, TBA
• Cross Country: Libby at Farragut (Idaho) Invitational, TBA