This week just might end up being the biggest football game of the season in Wayne/Holmes County with the last two undefeated teams in Hillsdale (5-0) and Smithville (5-0) going head-to-head in Jeromesville.
Not only midway through the season are both teams viewed as two of the top teams in their respective divisions in the state — according to Martin RPI, Smithville are ranked No. 3 in Div. VI; Hillsdale are No. 8 in Div VII — but the winner of Friday’s game will move into first place in the Wayne County Athletic Conference.
With that, let’s look into three factors that could decide the outcome of this Week 6 matchup.
Playing with the lead
Both Hillsdale and Smithville offensively have different philosophies. Hillsdale lean on their athleticism, explosiveness, and big-play ability with their skill players in the air and on the ground. Smithville likes to control the line of scrimmage, outmuscle you and pound away in the run game.
Yet, what both teams do very well is when they grab a lead or, better said, a sizable lead, they tend to hold it the rest of the way to cash in for victory.
This season, and even dating back to last season, when Hillsdale produces a huge first half where they find themselves up pretty comfortably heading into the second half, they do a fine job at using the clock to their advantage — slowing down the pace, protecting the football and just keeping the offense balanced.
They did this effectively last week against Dalton. After taking a 21-0 lead into halftime, Hillsdale used the clock in the second half and drifted to a 35-6 win.
For Smithville, if they get a lead, they make it hard for opposing teams to get the football back. Using different looks in how they run the football with halfbacks/fullbacks Mason Haines, Isaiah Lee and Ben Beichler, the Smithies wear on you. Piling up three yards here. Then four yards there. Then another three yards. First down Smithies. Then they’ll do it all over again.
A good example of this was in Week 4 versus Dalton. Down 13-0 early in the first quarter, Smithville went on to score 28 unanswered points. There was an eight to nine minute stretch in the second half where Smithville kept the ball by just gradually moving the chains.
What we’re saying is that whichever team jumps out to an early lead or a lead that might seem to tough for the other team to come back from based on both of their offensive approaches, they could hold the advantage in leaving with a win.
Smithville’s run game vs. Hillsdale’s defense
The key matchup to pay close attention to is Smithville’s run game against the Hillsdale defense. Like we mentioned before, Smithville really does a nice job giving opposing teams different looks with their running setups and having two or three backs in the backfield often. Once they get in a groove, they have been hard to contain this season.
That’s where the Falcons defense could come in handy. They already have two shutouts to their name and haven’t given up more then 14 points in a single game through the first five. Led by defensive linemen Jake Haven, Knox Lewis and Carston Stephens, and linebackers Brady Heller and Aiden Hoffman, Hillsdale’s run defense in between the tackles has really made it difficult for opponents.
Will Smithville be able to have their way on the ground? Will Hillsdale slow the Smithies run game down and force them to go into other areas offensively that maybe they’re not used to doing?
This might be the matchup to decide the game.
Experience
Knowing what to do, having the right demeanor, and having an idea of how to approacch and play in big stage games can honestly only come from expereincing it first hand. As a team that brings back a majority of the players that played in last year’s Division VII state championship game, Hillsdale has seen their share of big games and have won them.
Smithville has a big game win on their resume this season against Dalton, but this group hasn’t been in as many big atmosphere games as Hillsdale over the last two years. Maybe experience plays a factor in Hillsdale’s favor. Maybe it doesn’t. Smithville might have other plans.
That’s what makes this matchup so enticing.
jamessimpson@gannett.com
Twitter/X: @JamesSimpsonII
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Undefeated WCAL showdown: Previewing the Hillsdale vs. Smithville Week 6 clash
Reporting by James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record / The Daily Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
