Week 8: BHS looks to end 3-game skid against WHS

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For Blanchester, winning Friday night at Williamsburg would end a three-game losing streak to their Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference rival.

But head coach Brandon Sammons said a win wouldn’t “make” their season.

“We’re excited to be where we are, but know we’ve missed out on some opportunities so that leaves us wanting more,” he said. “We have a saying ‘Never satisfied’ and that is how we approach everything. We can always get better so that is what we focus on.”

Blanchester visits Williamsburg Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Blanchester and Bethel-Tate are both 2-0 in National Division play. The Tigers rallied to defeat WHS last week 28-24. Blanchester faces Bethel-Tate next week in a game that could determine the SBAAC National champion.

“We don’t look ahead. We are focused on ’Burg,” Sammons said. “This is step three for us in winning a league title and that is all we are worried about right now. Every game is the biggest and this week is no different and we know we have to come with a nastiness that can’t be matched and if we do that we will come out on top. We have to win and that is what we worry about. We have to come to play and execute and do what we do. We can’t worry about other people.”

Williamsburg will be a staunch test for Blanchester. WHS won last year’s game 27-20 and has won four of the last six contests between the two Wildcat squads.

“Williamsburg is a good football team,” Sammons said. “They can run the ball well and are capable of passing the ball to keep you guessing. They have a couple guys who run it physically and are elusive. They have some tough kids that will be a matchup for us. Defensively they do some different things and mix it up well. We’ll have to be focused and disciplined to be able to handle all they do. Their kicker does a nice job for them. We need to win the special teams matchup and we will have a great chance for success.”

Williamsburg is ninth in the Region 24 playoff rankings so a win against the higher division Blanchester team could help propel WHS back into the playoff picture. The top eight teams in each of Ohio’s 28 regions make the playoffs.

Sammons said he isn’t looking toward the playoffs. Blanchester still has a chance for a post-season berth but the ’Cats must clean up some sloppy play on both sides of the ball.

Sammons said BHS “shot ourselves in the foot too much offensively” in last week’s 28-7 win over a struggling Batavia squad. On defense, Blanchester “had a couple breakdowns.”

“We probably left three or four scores out there that we have to get cleaned up if we hope to keep moving forward and winning,” he said.

Dylan Miller against Batavia last week. The Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs 28-7.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/10/web1_FB7_blan_dylanmiller-1.jpgDylan Miller against Batavia last week. The Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs 28-7. Sam Collier | News Journal

Mark Huber

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Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports

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