Aggressive EV Gets Ready For Bears

Thu., Sept. 21, 2000

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

Central Valley is 2-0 and East Valley 0-2. But don’t tell Bears coach Rick Giampietri that victory is a foregone conclusion when the two teams meet at CV on Friday.

Last year the Knights lost to the Bears by four points and came within a first down of maybe beating them.

“I just watched EV on film,” said Giampietri. “They were aggressive and hustled around.”

That was before EV coach Adam Fisher lambasted his players for their lack of hustle.

“I expressed to the players they needed more effort,” said Fisher. “The special teams players were not running hard to the ball.”

EV might have overcorrected. During the 34-32 loss to the Highlanders, Knight special teams at times erred on the side of too much hustle, producing physical mistakes.

Twice, after the defense held, they were penalized for running into the punter, sustaining drives that ultimately produced touchdowns.

Additionally, Shadle ran a kickoff back for a touchdown and an EV kickoff return for a score was nullified by a chop block penalty.

“I can deal with physical mistakes but not mental,” said Fisher. “We cut down on that significantly against Shadle Park. That’s why we were competitive.”

But still winless. And now East Valley faces a Bear defense that was unscored upon for seven straight quarters before allowing a touchdown last week to North Central.

“I’m concerned about their defensive line play,” said Fisher. “They attack off the ball.”

EV will counter with the league’s leading rusher, junior Andrew Ettenger, who has rushed for 299 yards and four touchdowns, including 146 yards and two scores against Shadle.

Coaches also like the two-way play of tight end/defensive lineman Allen Coburn and of 215-pound sophomore guard Ross Brunelle.

“He was a quarterback this summer,” said Fisher. “When we saw him we saw a bigger guy who was really athletic. We needed more linemen and he was willing to do it.”

Still, the Knights are the underdog. The Bears have been consistent year in and year out, are unbeaten and their players have been in the system for three years.

“We’re competitive,” said Fisher. “But to win a game we have to have effort like it was against Shadle and cut down the physical mistakes.”

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