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Published Friday, October 30, 2009 in Sports

Indians stay on the move

By Tommy Camp

The Times-Herald

It won't surprise any follower of East Coweta football to read that the Indians have been a strong proponent of the ground game this fall, at least from a scoring perspective.

Of East Coweta's 27 touchdowns, 24 (89-percent) have resulted from running the ball.

And heading into tonight's game against Riverdale in Shoemake Stadium, the final home game of the regular season, tailback Tay Willis has 20 of them, including four each against Pebblebrook and Morrow.

"He's the one we look to," said head coach Clint Wade.

And often.

The senior scatback leads the county in scoring and, although it might be an exaggeration to make the point, as he goes, so goes the Indians.

Not surprisingly the only game this year in which Willis didn't score, the Indians lost, 13-9, to Creekside.

In East Coweta's other loss, a 34-29 back-and-forth encounter with Westlake, Willis scored three times but the Indians let two 14-point leads slip away.

East Coweta has literally been able to score from anywhere on the field in lightning-like fashion thanks to Willis' break-away talents as well as displaying the capacity to put together long, methodical drives.

Willis' 84-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage against Lovejoy set the tone in EC's 38-6 win, a bounce-back victory the Indians desperately needed after back-to-back losses to Creekside and Westlake.

He also had long sprints for scores against Pebblebrook (65 and 53 yards), Westlake (51 and 47) and a 48-yarder against Chapel Hill.

But Willis is more than just a scoring machine.

He's good for the short yardage as well.

And it all adds up.

He gained 251 yards in 16 carries against Pebblebrook, 191 on 18 against Morrow and 156 on nine against Lovejoy.

And two of his most memorable TD runs were of the short variety in overtime against Sandry Creek, a six-yarder that tied the game at 21 after Mikey Zeidler's PAT and a two yarder that put the Indians up 28-21 in the game they would win moments later on a blocked extra point.

Of the Indians' more impressive drives this year, their 88-yarder in 11 plays against Mundy's Mill tops the list. They also went 69 in eight against Lovejoy.

Success of any offense is directly attributable to the effectiveness of the offensive line and the Indians have played very well in that department this year with an entire new group of starters.

Only center Corey Hamlett saw considerable time on the field last year.

"And that was on defense," said Wade, who credits his staff, including offensive coordinator Tom Goechenor and line coach Ron Beaucham for helping develop the unit.

"No, I've been pleasantly surprised with how well that group has played. It's a credit to Coach (Ron) Beaucham. He's done a heck of a job."

Seniors Dominique Bridges, Cameron Smiley, J.T. Winslette, juniors Nick Girard and Darquan Boose and sophomore Jackson Harrison have all contributed from their positions up front.

The Indians also have an outstanding weapon in kicker Mikey Zeidler who, in addition to his extra point duties, has booted seven field goals including three against Creekside and two 37-yarders against Mundy's Mill, his longest efforts of the season.

Quarterback Austin Ingram, who started eight games last year, has directed the Indians' offense effectively.

While not an outstanding passer, he has thrown well enough to keep the opposing defenses relatively honest.

He has three touchdown passes and has run for two scores as well.

The Indians, who have outscored their opposition, 227-113, have been amazingly consistent this year in the first half, scoring a total of exactly 77 points in both the first and second quarters.

(Sports writer Chris Goltermann contributed to this story)

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