Osbourn gets back on winning track
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
By JUSTIN CREECH
For the News & Messenger
Published: September 28, 2008
“When you’re a good program and you’re 1-2 you can start to second guess yourself,” said Schultze. “I just didn’t sense they had full confidence.”
Following up an undefeated state championship season with a 4-6 record can be tough for anyone to swallow. Get off to a 1-2 start the next season, and doubt can creep into anyone’s mind.
That’s what happened to Osbourn. Suffering 24-7 and 31-3 losses to Brooke Point and Woodbridge in two of their first three games had the Eagles wondering if they would ever get back to the level of play that carried them to a state championship in 2006.
Saturday night erased those doubts.
“We wanted to play a complete football game,” said Schultze. “We played consistent and I think we got our swagger back tonight.”
Playing Liberty one week after the loss to Woodbridge was no easy task, especially with the Eagles coming into the game undefeated. However, that fact didn’t seem to bother Schultze or his players.
“We knew Liberty was better then last year,” said Schultze. “We knew we needed to play a complete game to beat them.”
Osbourn received 190 yards on 28 carries from starting quarterback Thomas Keith. Keith scored on runs of 12, and five yards, the latter coming in the 9:37 left in the fourth to give the Eagles a 27-6 lead. Keith also finished 4 for 8 passing for 48 yards.
After lackluster offensive performances against Brooke Point and Woodbridge, the Eagles racked up 304 rushing yards on 52 carries and 352 total yards for the game.
The Osbourn defense was equally as dominant as it held Liberty to 185 yards of total offense and just 71 yards rushing on 23 carries.
Liberty’s Damien Dodson ended Osbourn’s shutout bid by scoring from two yards out with 15.4 seconds left in the third quarter.
Osbourn didn’t stay down for long.
Starting at its 45, Osbourn drove 55 yards in just five plays, capped by Keith’s five yard run.
The Eagles next go on the road to take on the Potomac Panthers, whom defeated the Osbourn 39-6 at James J. Leo Stadium last season, a memory Schultze hasn’t forgotten.
“They have a speedy team,” said Schultze.
“They have a tough offense to prepare for and even they have lost some players from last season, they are still Potomac.”
Osbourn took a 13-0 lead into halftime on scoring runs by Jerell McFadden and Keith.
McFadden, who gained 41 yards on 11 carries, missed the second half with shortness of breath.
Schultze said he and the training staff decided to hold McFadden out for precautionary reasons.
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
