Rival coaches weigh in on tonight’s Southern Confederacy conference battle

Daily Globe

WORTHINGTON — According to the Beatles, people are supposed to get by with a little help from their friends. What happens when foes are the only ones that can provide help?

That was the case for Edgerton/Ellsworth and Nicollet when preparing for the squads’ matchup today in the quarterfinals of the Class 9-man state tournament at Southwest Minnesota State University. Although both are in the Southern Confederacy conference, the teams have not seen one another this season.

Hills-Beaver Creek coach Rex Metzger and Westbrook-Walnut Grove coach Carter Ross, however, have seen both teams. Do coaches reveal secrets to rival teams?

“(Edgerton/Ellsworth) talked to me a little bit,” Metzger said. “Being in the same conference, you kind of pull for each other.”

According to Metzger there isn’t even a temptation to “accidentally” tell a conference rival the wrong information.

“You wouldn’t mislead them by any means,” Metzger said with a laugh. “I think if you’re from the same area, to share a few tendencies is not uncommon.”

For Metzger, the verdict goes in favor of E/E.

“Nicollet is more one-dimensional,” Metzger said. “Edgerton is more balanced.

“My prediction would be Edgerton, but it should be a good game.”

Neither team contacted Ross and, although he refused to give a prediction, he had essentially the same viewpoints surrounding Nicolett’s offense being too pass heavy.

“Edgerton is one of the best high school teams I’ve seen top to bottom,” Ross said. “You can’t just key on the run because they can throw, too.

“Their offensive scheme is very deceptive and they are dangerous in all facets of the game. You know what Nicollet is going to do.”

It isn’t all positive for E/E, as Ross believes the change in opponents could be a problem for the Flying Dutchmen.

“Last week, Edgerton played a team that threw the ball twice and this week they will be playing a team that will run the ball twice,” Ross said. “We played Nicollet in 30-mile-per-hour winds and they threw the ball 60 times.

“You have to decide whether to cover Nicollet’s receivers or go after the quarterback. But you do know what’s coming.”

Nicollet’s focus on the pass isn’t anything new to E/E coach Andrew Fleischman.

“If you are able to advance this far doing one thing then you do that one thing very, very well,” Fleischman said.

Tags: edgerton ellsworth, sports, prep, football