By Matthew Peaslee

mpeaslee@vindy.com

GIRARD

In its 34-19 win over Orrville last week, Creston Norwayne quarterback Adam Wallace was sacked four times. Put under a heap of pressure throughout the game, the polished QB still managed to throw for 137 yards, while completing 9-of-19 passes. This season, he has totaled 2,245 passing yards with an average of 18 yards per completion.

“Orrville definitely blitzed more and brought more pressure than we’re used to,” Norwayne coach Joe Harbour said. “They’d rush seven and eight guys at us and it’s hard when you only have five or six guys guys blocking them.”

Still, it didn’t phase Wallace much.

“He’s done a great job in his career,” Harbour said of the senior who is the team’s third leading rusher with 726 yards. “He’s learned how to take a hit and miss tackles by being mobile and elusive.”

Certainly that’s caught the attention of Girard coach Nick Cochran.

“He’s a tough one,” Cochran said. “He’ll be tough to bring down.”

Asked if the Indians defense plans to bring more pressure to the Bobcats backfield, Cochran basically said he’d answer that tonight at Green Memorial Stadium.

“We’re going to do what we see fit,” he said. “We can’t just say we’re going to blitz. It’ll be tough to guard them all, but we’re still going to bring some pressure.”

At running back, Norwayne (11-1) trots out its best version of Lewis and Clark in a pair of brothers — Jon and Tyler Zimmerly — that are pioneers at finding a seam.

“They’re basically two kids that share one spot,” Harbour said of the tandem separated by a year. “They are both hard-running backs that can spread out and run up field. We get them both rest so they each stay fresh throughout the game.”

Tyler, the elder, leads the team with 822 rushing yards on 79 carries, with Jon toting the ball 101 times for 729 yards.

Scouting Girard, Harbour has taken note of its weapons that blew out Black River in the Division IV semifinals 56-14.

“We’ve seen some fast teams this year,” he said. “Brookfield, Smithville and [Collins] Western Reserve come to mind, but Orrville was definitely the fastest. Watching film of Girard, we know it’ll be tough to keep up with [Ahmad] Eggleston and [Branden] Byrd. Their quarterback [Dan Graziano] isn’t shabby and he makes the offense go. They’re all very explosive with big play potential.”

Orrville burned the Bobcats early getting on the board first with a 50-yard touchdown pass. Cochran wants to create similar big plays, added with long runs from Eggleston who had scores of 34, 58 and 71 yards against Black River. Those are to be created from the offensive line.

“If we’re not making first impact off the ball, it’s going to be a long day for us,” Cochran said. “Our linemen just have to come ready to play and if they don’t understand what week 13 is all about — it’s going to be a tough game to score.”