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Prep Football Preview: Durant (1-0) At East Bay (1-0)

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

At Stake

DURANT: Mike Gottman's Cougars have a chance to start 2-0 for the first time since 2004, which also was the last year the team finished with a record better than .500.

EAST BAY: Brian Thornton's Indians have a chance to avenge a last-second loss to the Cougars in 2007 (a field goal as time expired lifted Durant to a 24-21 win) and a chance to start 2-0 for the first time since 2002.

Key Stat

While Durant owns a 7-6 mark all-time against East Bay, the Cougars are 1-3 all-time at E.G. Simmons Field, site of tonight's game. But the Cougars have given the Indians all they could handle in those road games.

If you take out the storyline-filled 33-7 Indians win in 1995 - it was Brian Thornton's first win at East Bay and snapped the Indians' 24-game losing streak, and it was the Cougars' first game in program history - the other three matchups were decided by a combined 12 points. In fact, the largest margin of victory was East Bay's 24-17 overtime win in 1997. The other two results - a 21-19 East Bay win in 2000 and a 25-22 Durant win in 2005.

DURANT: Senior OL Cole Gilliam. For the Cougars to have a chance, they're going to have to control the line of scrimmage on offense, and that starts with the 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman. Gilliam, a Division I prospect, is the anchor of a line that paved the way for the Cougars to rack up 280 rushing yards last week, numbers Durant likely needs to equal this week to pull out a win.

EAST BAY: Junior DL Dontavious Fleming. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior defensive lineman is very athletic for a big man and dynamic against the run, according to Coach Brian Thornton. Fleming likely will be double-teamed tonight, but if he can break through and penetrate Durant's backfield, it could be a long night for the Cougars offense.

WHEN DURANT HAS THE BALL: The Cougars, who moved to the spread-option attack this season, will look first to move the ball on the ground behind senior running back Ryan Rice, who had 165 yards and three touchdowns in last week's win against Plant City. However, the key will be sophomore quarterback Je'Twan Smith. Smith needs to be productive and make good decisions, and if he does that it should open things up for the offense and give Rice a chance to have another breakout game.

WHEN EAST BAY HAS THE BALL: The Indians utilize the wishbone, the only Hillsborough County team to run the tricky run-oriented offense. Senior fullback Chaz Burrows, who rushed for 269 yards and three touchdowns last week, will get the most attention from opposing defenses, but any runner in this scheme can be dangerous. Sophomore quarterback Fred Porter will be running the show, but tailbacks Andre Simpson, D.J. Richmond and Devontay Oglesby all figure into the game plan as well, giving the Indians a stable of weapons at their disposal.

"The wishbone is difficult because you see it one time a year, and Brian Thornton has ran this thing for 30 years. He just does a great job. Once he gets you figured out, he'll dice you up." - Durant coach Mike Gottman.

"I think the key to this game is turnovers, special teams and penalties. ... I think offensively and defensively, I think it can be a real challenge stopping their running game, and I think they could have some trouble stopping our running game. I think special teams can make the difference. Special teams and who makes the mistakes." - East Bay coach Brian Thornton said.

"It's going to be a real smash-mouth game." - Durant offensive lineman Cole Gilliam.

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