Westbrook Christian (3-2, 2-1) at Gaston (3-2, 1-2)
Last week’s results: Gaston 47, Wadley 20; Westbrook 24, Ohatchee 16
2012 result: Westbrook 52, Gaston 12
Series record: Gaston leads 4-2
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
With six teams basically tied for second place in Region 7 of Class 2A, any win – or any loss – is now critical to playoff hopes.
“You don’t want to be sitting at 1-3 and Fyffe coming up,” Gaston coach Swane Morris said. “A loss wouldn’t knock us out, but it would come close.”
The Bulldogs visit No. 6 Fyffe next week.
Westbrook coach Tony Osborne doesn’t want to look at any game as must-win; instead, he approaches each game individually.
“All the games are important, because they’re the next game,” he said. “But this one isn’t any more important that any other.”
These two county teams play two totally different styles of offense.
Westbrook likes to air it out while Gaston is more of a run-oriented offense.
“They have the ability to sling it on any play – and they will,” Morris said of the Warriors. “We’ll have to be ready to defend the entire field.”
Of the Bulldogs, Osborne said, “Their skill people are very talented and very fast. And it’s not one or two of them. Any of them are liable to break free on any play.”
Last week, Gaston broke loose for over 400 rushing yards while throwing for over 100.
“Anytime we can throw that well, our runners can be successful,” Morris said.
Individually against Wadley, Shai Og-les carried the ball nine times for 139 yards with two touchdowns and caught two passes for 43 yards and a score.
Jailyn Britton rushed nine times for 124 yards and a touchdown, while Braxton Collins finished with 11 carries for 39 yards and two scores.
Jordan Douglas completed 6 of 13 passes for 118 yards.
For Westbrook against Ohatchee, Will Appleton completed 12-of-15 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing score.