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Beavers still working to improve

A shot at the Buckeye 8 North Division ended last Friday. Playoffs are also out of the question.

Beaver Local’s goal with two weeks left has not changed.

“Keep improving,” Beaver head coach Jeremy McElroy said. “They’re moving on to the next challenge against Martins Ferry. We’re trying to improve and play as one every game. Our kids are still focused. We talk about it, but they understand that. It’s the ninth week of the season, and we’re trying to go 1-0.”

If the Beavers (3-5, 2-2) could have held on to a 15-0 halftime lead over Indian Creek last week, they would be in first place with a 3-1 division mark. Instead, a 16-point second half by the Redskins puts them in first place with Beaver far behind.

“We were playing hard, and the momentum was on our side. The momentum flipped in the second half,” McElroy said. “They started making some plays. You can’t pinpoint just one play; there were a couple. Unfortunately we never could get over them.”

Everything was clicking in the first half. Beaver’s defense posted a shutout, special teams were playing well and the offense was moving at a consistent rate.

Indian Creek simply played better in the second half.

“They switched their defense up but nothing that we didn’t expect,” McElroy said. “They changed their front a little bit. Other than getting short fields, nothing really changed. They got opportunities and converted.”

With that tough loss in the past, Beaver turns its attention to Martins Ferry. The 5-3 Purple Riders are coming off a 69-0 victory over Carrick. They fell 33-0 to Indian Creek the week before and defeated East Liverpool 14-7 the week before that. “They’re a traditional team that likes to run the ball and come at you,” McElroy said. “They’ll throw some play actions in there. They attack you with running the ball and fill the gaps defensively.”

The Beavers also like to attack their opponents with the running game. They will lean heavily on Garrett Givens and Torey Calio this week. Michael Clendenning suffered a concussion against Indian Creek and is ruled out. He was cleared on Wednesday but, by rule, must sit for seven days before returning. Donovan Garcia will fill in as the third back.

If the situation calls for it, McElroy may turn to quarterback Logan Bouscher in the passing game. Bouscher threw a few more passes than he normally does against Indian Creek.

“We threw the ball twice during our first touchdown drive. It wasn’t that it had to be done. It was just that it was third down and needed the first,” McElroy said. “We also threw it twice right before the half. One was a great catch, and the other was an interception. The situation dictated those passes. We felt like we needed to throw the ball to give ourselves a chance to go down and score.”

Clendenning hauled in a 27-yard catch with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Bouscher’s interception came in the end zone after two straight false starts.

What doesn’t go unnoticed is the Beaver defense forced and recovered a fumble on the very next play from scrimmage. McElroy was encouraged by his defense’s efforts last week and hopes for the same this Friday.

“Any time your kids are flying around and getting to the football, that’s going to dictate how well you’re doing things. Our kids played a very good game defensively,” he said. “All around our kids played pretty darn well.”

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