ESU’s “Three-Headed” Monster

Eric Deery (senior running back)

 

Nate Daniels (junior quarterback)
Matt Soltes (freshman quarterback)
Kendrick Williams (senior tailback)
Eric Deery (senior running back)

By Addam Litts
SC Staff Writer

Buried deep in the chambers of Eiler-Martin Stadium lies an attack so potent and scary that defenses tremble at the thought. This attack consists of power, speed, and accuracy.

Speed coming from senior running back Eric Deery, power from senior tailback Kendrick Williams, and accuracy from the arm of Freshman Quarterback Matt Soltes or Junior Quarterback Nate Daniels, depending on who is having the better game.

What is a three-headed monster exactly?

A “three headed monster” is an offense based on running the ball with success, being able to throw the ball at any given time, and having a third athlete be a threat as well—wherever the athlete is.

In the Warriors’ case, they have two running backs that can take the bulk of carries or come out of the backfield for a pass.

They also have two amazing quarterbacks with pinpoint precision and arm strength. Head Coach Denny Douds has not seen or been able to use an offense with options every play in many years.

With this newly acquired, high powered offense, Coach Douds can now score on the ground, through the air, or with a combination of the two.

Douds has a powerful, tackle busting running back in Kendrick Williams who manages the majority of carries with him averaging 5.9 yards a carry and a little more than 12 carries a game.

As a change of pace, the speedy and elusive Eric Deery has almost 300 yards piled up already this season on only 37 carries.

If both of those attacks fail, Coach Douds also has two quarterbacks with canons for arms that he can utilize: Matt Soltes, who allegedly has a 128% efficiency rating when going to the air, and Nate Daniels, who completed 30 of 54 pass attempts.

As homecoming approaches this weekend, and ESU comes off a hard loss to Clarion, expect the Warriors to get back on track against the West Chester Rams. Expect both running backs to put up huge numbers this weekend on the turf.

The ESU Warriors hope to utilize the “three-headed attack” very effectively.

West Chester was the second to last team in the PSAAC in stopping the run last year. With their new defensive scheme, Head Coach Bill Zwaan hopes to improve on that ranking this year. With his young team and both of ESU’s running backs averaging almost 100 yards a game against arguably better defenses, Coach Bill Zwaan will have an uphill battle from the very first snap on Saturday Afternoon.

Expect Coach Douds to utilize both running backs every single play. He’ll also use the play action to throw the defense off as well as the option read offense Douds is famous for.

Prediction: With ESU being able to run the ball very effectively and throw the ball when they need to, the Golden Rams are going to have a hard time trying to stop all three options. ESU should score early and often.

ESU will have the victory and the second strings in by mid third-quarter. On paper this looks like a blow out but who knows—West Chester could come out ready to play.

Email Addam at:
ajl0056@live.esu.edu