GAME PREVIEWS: BGA Welcomes Knox Webb; GCA takes on Mt. Pleasant

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By JOSH VARDAMAN

Knox Webb (5-1) at Battle Ground Academy (5-2), 7 p.m. Friday*

Battle Ground Academy was in the dumps after two straight losses and another appearing imminent last week going into the fourth quarter against Davidson Academy.

That’s when the Wildcats’ offense answered and turned things around, scoring 21 fourth-quarter points to take down the Bears 35-27.

“Our kids showed a lot of fight,” BGA head coach Roc Batten said. “That’s kind of who we are – we’re a team that is going to keep fighting until the very end. It was a good win for us on the road.”

The come-from-behind win gives BGA confidence going into this week’s home matchup against Knoxville Webb. The Spartans are riding a five-game winning streak after a season-opening loss to Alcoa.

Knox Webb has been fairly consistent on both sides of the ball this season, averaging 35 points per game while giving up 17 per contest.

BGA will hope to look more like it did in the fourth quarter last week. During the last 12 minutes, the Wildcats were helped by two explosive plays, a pass from quarterback Drew Martin to Kel Hawkins for 59 yards and a 68-yard punt return by Joseph Pasley.

Pasley was everywhere for BGA against Davidson Academy, racking up 237 all-purpose yards (98 receiving, 71 rushing and 68 return yards) and two touchdowns. He also had six tackles on defense.

The explosive plays the Wildcats had against Davidson Academy may be tough to get against Knox Webb.

“They’re an aggressive defense. They fly around to the football with an aggressive, attacking 40 defense,” Batten said.

Defensively, BGA will have to deal with a very impressive Spartans’ offense that features a wing-T attack. Batten said they are focusing on limiting Knox Webb’s big play ability.

“They’re an explosive attack,” he said. “We have to win first down and put them in second-and-seven plus situations.

“They have three kids who can take it the distance anytime they touch the football … we have to really rally to the football, team tackle and be very disciplined in our system and in our scheme.”

A win Friday could set the Wildcats up with big time momentum heading into their final two contests of the season. In order to do so, they can’t show up like they did against Davidson Academy last week and hope to pull one out with a furious late comeback against a stout Spartans team.

Mt. Pleasant (0-6, 0-4) at Grace Christian Academy (1-5, 1-4), 7 p.m. Friday*

The high from winning their first game of the season didn’t last very long for the Grace Christian Academy Lions.

After taking down Richland in Week 6, the Lions were grounded in a 57-21 loss against Columbia Academy last week.

GCA will hope to get back into the win column this week at Mt. Pleasant, which is winless this season.

The Lions’ offense should be gearing up for what could be a good day against a poor Tigers’ defense. This season they are giving up 42 points per game, while GCA is scoring at a 29-point-per-game clip.

Mt. Pleasant’s offense hasn’t been much better than its defense, either. On the season the Tigers are only averaging 17 points per game, however in their last two contests they have scored 20 points in both games.

While neither team is really in contention in the Region 4-1A standings, there could be some bragging rights on the line after Mt. Pleasant beat GCA 29-6 last season.