Hopewell Football
Hopewell/Avonworth Preview: Keys To Victory!
Are you ready for some Friday night football!
Head coach Matt Mottes and his Hopewell Vikings are back in action tonight as they’ll host Avonworth. Kickoff from Tony Dorsett Stadium is set for 7 PM.
Both teams enter tonight’s game with a record of 2-2. Taking a look at Avonworth, they started the season with wins over Burrell (24-7) and West Mifflin (28-22) before losing their last two games to Aliquippa (46-20) and Thomas Jefferson (44-7).
Don’t look too much into those two losses because they came against two of the best overall teams in the WPIAL, regardless of classification. Both Thomas Jefferson and Aliquippa are elite teams and programs.
Avonworth isn’t an elite team this season, but they are very good, very experienced, very well coached and will give Hopewell problems. Avonworth isn’t on the level of Beaver, but they will be the second most difficult opponent that the Vikings have played this season.
Hopewell will be looking to rebound from last Friday against Beaver and try to gain some momentum as they enter a crucial part of the schedule.
Can Hopewell win this game? Yes. BUT they’ll need to play their best, most complete game of the season.
In order for that to happen, here are 3 big keys to victory.
1. BALL CONTROL: Hopewell isn’t at the stage of their team development where they want to get into a shootout with any team. Although it might be fun to watch, it’s not a recipe for success. Sure, it would be nice to throw the ball 20-30 times a game but if you’re not completing those passes or making mistakes and giving the opposition a short field to work with, you’re killing your defense. Last week’s opening TD drive against Beaver is a bit of a blueprint of what this 2024 Hopewell team wants to do. Have success running on first and second downs and give themself a manageable 3rd down and hopefully move the sticks. If you’re able to do that a few times, even if you don’t score a touchdown, you’re flipping field position and taking time off the clock. Will this type of game plan change in the future, I’d imagine it would and maybe even this season, but for now, in my opinion, this gives Hopewell the best chance to stay in the game and hopefully win.
2. MORE INVOLVEMENT: To this point of the season, James Armstrong and Brody Rock have been asked to lead the Hopewell attack on offense. In preparation for them, the opposing teams are no doubt seeing this and game-planning for that duo. In order for Hopewell to have more success on offense and change this up, I believe a few more people need to have some touches, if for nothing else, to give the defense someone else to look at. Thomas Pipkins and Josh Brunton in the run and possibly short passing game are options. Brunton is a totally different player than Rock, Armstrong and Pipkins and his speed is capable of big plays. Tre Cameron, Avery Bokor and Julian Baldwin are possibilities in the passing game and possibly on jet sweeps. Armstrong and Rock need to continue to lead the offense, but they need help.
3. SPLASH FROM THE D: I’ve focused and put a lot of pressure on the Vikings offense but it’s a team game and the offense could use some help as well. Getting a short field to work with instead of needing to drive 70-80 yards for a touchdown would help their efforts. When they haven’t given up a long TD, this Hopewell defense has played OK and is getting better. However, something that would help them out is somehow trying to create negative plays. By that I mean, tackle for losses or find a way to generate some sacks. Obviously, turnovers would be nice but creating ‘splash plays’ on early downs and putting their opponent in 2nd and 3rd and long would be huge. The players have to trust their eyes and trust what the coaches are telling them on defense. Find a way to limit long TD’s and come up with a handful of splash plays on defense.
After tonight’s game, the schedule for Hopewell becomes a bit more manageable with games against Quaker Valley, Freeport and McGuffey. Those will be must wins if Hopewell has any chance to qualify for the playoffs.
Last season, Avonworth beat Hopewell, 45-6. I’ll predict that Hopewell keeps it within 39 points and will score more than 6 points.
Will they win the game? If the 3 things that I mentioned occur, I believe that this has a chance to be a competitive game into the second half.
Go Vikings! Remember, Hopewell Sports Nation will be broadcasting tonight’s game live on Facebook with Bruce Frey and Mike Vukovcan.
