THE PLAINS — The Bulldogs have been chomping at the bit for quite some time now, looking to make a genuine statement on the gridiron to the Athens faithful. Now, after a dream start to the season, the ‘Dogs (2-0) get to show their bite in front of a home crowd.
Through two statement victories on the road, Athens has a +63 point differential. The most recent being a 55-6 drubbing of Gallia Academy in Gallipolis.
This Friday, the Bulldogs see Marietta come into Joe Burrow Stadium for a non-conference tilt in the home opener for this week’s Messenger Game of the Week. The undefeated Tigers (2-0) come in with the same momentum in the record books but it seems as if it was a bit of a grind for Marietta to steal the victories.
The Tigers grabbed a 13-12 victory over Morgan in the opening week of the season before grabbing a 10-0 shutout victory over John Marshall at home last week. Despite being undefeated, Marietta will certainly have to start picking up the pace on the offensive side of the ball if the team wants to compete with the high-powered offense of Athens.
Averaging just over 40 points-per-game in the start of the season, the Bulldogs have shown various different ways to put points on the board. It all starts with the legs of Alex Pero.
The star senior carried over the momentum from a breakout junior campaign with another stat-stuffing start to the year. Pero has carried the ball 49 times for 335 yards and five touchdowns in just two games. Averaging just under seven yards every time he rushes the ball, the workhorse back should look to put on another show for the home crowd on Friday.
Working as a dual-threat option, Braeden Young has also found success running at the quarterback position. The senior has rushed for 91 yards and a pair of scores on the year while also spinning the ball through the air at an efficient rate.
The senior has a 76% completion rate through the air this season, tossing for 300 yards and two scores so far this season. More importantly, the gunslinger has not turned the ball over once through the air this season.
With names like Leo Martin, Anthony Sutton and Seth Hart working as viable options in the receiving game, the explosive and expansive offensive unit from Athens should look to put on another show this Friday night.
As mentioned earlier, Marietta has seemingly struggled to put points on the board consistently to start the season. It won’t get any easier either.
Piling on to the incredible start offensively, Athens has been nearly lockdown on the defensive side of the ball. Allowing just 20 points combined through two weeks, the Bulldogs should have no issue making another statement on defense this week.
As expected, Athens will be set to rely on the incredibly talented linebacker trio patrolling the middle of the defense. As head coach Nathan White mentioned before the season even started, the core of Hart, Brady Wharton and Luke Kaiser have been incredible to start the season.
Hart leads all players with 25 tackles on the season while Wharton and Kaiser have recorded 21 and 18 respectively. Martin has had an excellent start to the season on the outside with 14 tackles in the secondary.
On the defensive line, Jacob Raney has broken out with 11 tackles so far while Isaiah Roberts and Malikye Peterson have both shown flashes in a deep group.
Playing at home for the first time this season, Athens has a prime opportunity to make one more giant statement before kicking off Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio play the week after. If the team just stays consistent with what it has been attempting to achieve this season, it should be another fun and exciting night of football in The Plains.
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