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Hornets’ win draws attention from Eaton

Monroe ‘played with a lot of confidence,’ Eagles coach says; football teams play Friday at Eaton.

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By John Bombatch Updated 1:16 AM Friday, September 30, 2011

By John Bombatch

Staff Writer

MONROE — Rallying for a win over a perennial powerhouse like Valley View tends to draw people’s attention.

Eaton coach Ron Neanen certainly noticed.

“That definitely caught our attention,” Neanen said. “They played with a lot of confidence, especially in that second half. And that was a different offense than what we’d seen them use earlier this season.”

Neanen jokingly said he was hoping Hornets coach Brett Stubbs might make a phone call and tell him which offense his Eagles should prepare for, but for some reason the phone never rang.

“They went from a spread offense to more of an I-formation running game,” he said. “I’d like to ask him which of those he was going to run.”

Stubbs said the change in offense came out of necessity. After a shellacking by Franklin two weeks ago, the veteran Hornet coach decided change was in order.

He moved talented speedster Ramone Boyce from quarterback to wideout, and put Kevin Sloneker in at quarterback. The move not only freed Boyce’s speed at a position he was more comfortable in, but allowed him to get more time at defensive back, too.

“We went to a simpler scheme offensively, and it’s made things easier for everybody,” Stubbs explained.

It was as if 22 light bulbs went off all at onc during the second half of last week’s game with Valley View. After trailing 14-3 at the half, things began to click for the Hornets as they reeled off 15 unanswered points in the second half for an 18-14 homecoming win.

But Stubbs knows that it might take more than several players on the same page to beat the Eagles. Eaton’s offense is averaging 33.8 points per contest and has won four of its first five games. Quarterback Cole French is considered one of the very best in the Dayton area. French has 10 passing touchdowns and three rushing TDs this season.

“We need to keep Eaton’s offense off the field,” Stubbs explained. “The more they’re on the field, the more likely it is that they’re going to score points. If we can do that, we’ll be OK.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.

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