Prep football: Ravens grab a key Greatland win over Houston

Aug. 19, 2007

By ADAM RAEDER/ Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

FAIRBANKS - The Eielson Ravens have always been known for smash-mouth football, but when they took Buck Nystrom Field Friday, they brought something that looked a lot like finesse.

While the Ravens didn't become the aerial show their namesake might imply, attempting just six passes, the Ravens replaced their conventional between-the-tackles approach for the smoke-and-mirrors of an option attack.

And the Ravens didn't miss a beat.

With Austin Samulowitz at the helm and Chance Renfro and Andrew Sprankle doing the heavy lifting, the option-oriented Ravens slashed, pitched and dove their way to 301 yards on the ground en route to a 34-21 Greatland Conference high school victory over the Houston Hawks.

&#8220We kind of poked a little at it last year, but we never actually got all the way through the progression,” Eielson coach David DeVaughn said. &#8220We've got some backs that it's pretty tailored well to, and we've got a quarterback that can run on the edge. So, it seems to suit us this year.”

For the speedy Sprankle, the Ravens' new offense is just fine. Coming from the wing for a toss to the outside, or serving as the pitch man on the option, Sprankle wracked up 135 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries, including an 80-yard score the first time he touched the ball.

&#8220Basically, we've been working on keeping the outside open, and scouting Houston, they've always had it there,” the senior said. &#8220I just went with my line, keeping with my blocks.”

Sprankle's outside presence helped keep Houston honest, preventing the safeties - who were playing just five yards off the line of scrimmage - and linebackers from keying on one player.

Nowhere did this show more than Renfro's game-breaking 68-yard run.

The Hawks had just pulled back within striking distance, 26-13, on Jordan Webb's second touchdown pass of the evening, and the Ravens were starting the drive at their own 32 yard line late in the third quarter.

With Sprankle going in motion, Samulowitz gave the ball to Renfro - the first of his three options - before breaking to the right sideline with Sprankle in tow.

While the defense swarmed after the pair - one defender actually tackled Samulowitz - Renfro went untouched up the middle for the score.

&#8220I owe that run to my line, they blocked tremendously,” he said. &#8220They opened that hole wide open and I just ran.”

Though the Ravens so far have been unable to keep opponents honest through their passing game - Samulowitz was 2-of-6 for 43 yards Friday - the option has them eating up the yards on the ground, and it's their quarterback that's made it possible.

&#8220We've always had it in our playbook, but we've never had the ability to run it right,” Renfro said. &#8220With Austin there, we can run it now.”

While Eielson's quarterback was captaining their running game, Webb was going to the air early and often for the Hawks.

The Houston junior threw for 220 yards on 17-of-40 passing, including five strikes of 20-plus yards.

&#8220He's a heck of a good quarterback,” Houston coach Norm Bouchard said. &#8220He's worked hard over the summer, and he's come out here and done some nice things for us. He lets us be a wide-open team.”

Webb, who eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the second time in as many games, showed Friday that he's more than just a big arm. Standing in against a relentless Ravens blitz, Webb's ability to keep plays alive with his feet - and a few well-timed stiff arms - let the Hawks convert on big plays.

&#8220We kind of live and die by that (blitz),” DeVaughn said. &#8220If we get our pressure there, things work the way we want them to. If we don't, we've kind of got our corners on islands and safeties on islands. So, the pressure, our philosophy is it has to get there. If it's not, we're leaving our teammates out to dry.”

From big plays, to five fumbles, to 15 penalties, the Ravens made their fair share of mistakes. As DeVaughn put it, they were &#8220shooting off 10 toes and half the foot.” But by dusting off a few unused pages of the playbook, the Ravens found a way to come out on top.

&#8220I really like it,” Sprankle said of the new offensive scheme. &#8220It gives me the ball a little bit more.”

Contact staff writer Adam Raeder at 459-7583.

Eielson 34, Houston 21

Friday, Buck Nystrom Field

Houston 0 7 6 8 - 21

Eielson 13 6 15 0 - 34

First Quarter

Eielson - Sprankle 80 run (Renfro kick), 10:51.

Eielson - Samulowitz 2 run (kick failed), 5:17.

Second Quarter

Eielson - Renfro 10 run (kick failed), 2:58.

Houston- Stinson 5 pass from Webb (kick good), :25.3.

Third Quarter

Eielson - Sprankle 10 run (Renfro kick), 5:36.

Houston - Mason 11 pass from Webb (run failed), 3:06.

Eielson - Renfro 68 run (Renfro pass), 2:51.

Fourth Quarter

Houston - Parks 4 run (run good), 1:45.

Hou Eiel

First downs 14 8

Rushes-yards 25-95 50-301

Passing yards 220 43

Return yards 37 51

Comp-Att-Int 17-40-2 2-6-0

Punts 2-30.0 3-30.7

Fumbles-Lost 5-2 5-3

Penalties-Yards 9-60 15-113

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Houston, MParks 15-51; Webb 5-37; Morales 4-10; Steed 1 - (-3). Eielson, Sprankle 6-135; Renfro 13-98; Samulowitz 15-36; Langfield 6-22; Nelson 2-10.

PASSING-Houston, Webb 17-40-2-220. Eielson, Samulowitz 2-6-0-43.

RECEIVING-Houston, Mason 6-114; Contreras 4-60; Morales 4-54; Stinson 2-2. Eielson, King 1-26; Barnicle 1-17.