By Danny Villanueva
Contributing Writer
Twitter – @Danny_361
Broadcast coverage: The game will be broadcast on the radio (92.1 FM in Gainesville and 100.1 FM in Ocala). It will also be video streamed Live on Eastside High School Athletics Facebook page.
Eastside Rams
Coach: Ceddrick Daniels
Record: 2-1
Key Players: Anthony Richardson (QB, WR) Deion Jenkins (RB) Jabari Robinson (WR) Jahren Phillips (MLB) Vermonte Williams (DE) Tyreese Sanford (MLB)
Outlook: The visiting Rams are looking for their third win of the season after imposing a running clock last week at Central (Brooksville) in a 64-0 win. The Rams’ offense has been nothing short of electric so far this season as they have averaged 44 points per game. Most of, if not all, of the credit deserves to go Richardson. The Florida commit is the definition of a dual threat as he leads the team in rushing with 95 yards per game and 139.3 passing yards per game for at total of 235 total yards per game. The defense will be looking to suppress a Newberry offense that has struggled to put up points. The Eastside defense is led by Phillips, who leads the team in sacks with 3.5. Williams leads the team in tackles with 13.
Newberry Panthers
Coach: Richard Vester
Record: 0-2
Key Players: Wyatt Parrish (QB) Rashad Opoto (RB) Kobe Delima (WR, CB) Lancaster Munashe (DE) Bubba Hester (ILB) Trovon Banks (DE, ILB)
Outlook: The Panthers are probably wishing they could press the reset button on the 2018-2019 season. The Panthers have been outscored 85-16 in the first two games of the season. Newberry has struggled on both sides of the football. According to Max Preps, the team is only averaging 13 receiving yards per game. They’re also only averaging 38 yards on the ground. They will need Opoto to be better than he was in the season’s first two contests. The running back is only averaging 2.8 yards a carry. Parrish will have to find more success against Eastside as he has only completed one of six passes this year. Defensively, they gave up 31 points to Santa Fe High School and 54 to Madison County. Wide Dilema will have to work extra hard on the defensive end as he leads the defense with five total tackles on the year. Munashe will have to try to get the team’s first sack of the season. He actually has the team’s only registered turnover of the season as he forced a fumble. The Panthers are hoping the Homecoming crowd can help give them a lift.
