Cashion: Stopping Cody Pritchard key...

By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com

Cashion (12-0) vs. Stroud (12-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Stroud HS

Cashion coach Lynn Shackelford admits him and Stroud coach Chris Elerick are really good friends, but that won’t interfere with anything.

It’s not like there is any secret about what the teams like to do, anyway. Cashion prides itself on its balanced offense while Stroud has one of the most under-the-radar backs in the state in Cody Pritchard.

Pritchard has rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns. Shackelford knows Cashion must stop Stroud to move on to the semifinals.

One way the Wildcats plan to do that is to simply keep Stroud off the field. If Cashion can have some nice, sustained drives and keep Stroud off the field, that will be crucial.

Stroud is an interesting club. District A-5 hasn’t really caught my eye this year while you know I’ve been ga-ga over A-2. Now that doesn’t mean Stroud can’t get the job done, but it will be interesting.

Is this a 12-0 team because of its schedule, or will it be a 13-0 team because it is just that good? I don’t know.

When I worked at Shawnee, it was down times for Stroud. Elerick was just taking over, and the Tigers were going through 3-7 seasons. Those are long gone, so there’s no question there is talent on Stroud. Should be a fun one.