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Through the first six weeks of the 2007 football season, Talawanda Head Coach Mike Wright and his Braves have started the season split at 3-3.
"It's been kind of an up and down season; we're not satisfied with where we're at and we're hoping that in the next five weeks we can go out and improve and win the conference," Wright said.
The high-scoring Braves had scored at least 35 points in their past two games, before shutting out Mount Healthy 17-0 in Oxford Friday night, kicking off the Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC) portion of their schedule. Although the team has lost three times early in the season, two of the losses have been by seven points or less, and following the Mount Healthy game, two of the team's three wins have involved holding the opponents scoreless.
"We always have high expectations and we're just now getting into conference play," Wright said. "One of the things we talked about year in and year out is that we want to win our conference. That's what our goal is. We also want to put ourselves in position to be in the playoffs."
Starting quarterback Braden Park has gotten off to slow start, something he wasn't expecting.
"I haven't had as good of a year as I thought," Park said, who predicted before the season that after throwing for more than 1,400 yards as a sophomore, he would throw for 2,000 yards this year. "You hope for better, but you can't look back now, you just keep going ahead and look for the next five games."
Now in the FAVC portion of the schedule, every game is important for the Braves to win.
"(The FAVC games) all are important ones now, it's league play, so we're gonna go from there and hopefully keep winning," Park said. "I have 100 percent confidence we can win the conference."
With 2007 being the Braves' second year in the FAVC, after being in the Mid-Miami Conference prior to the 2006-07 season, the Braves have developed a strong rivalry with nearby Edgewood High School.
Last year Talawanda went 4-1 in FAVC play, losing the conference to first place Edgewood, which went 5-0 and beat Talawanda in Oxford 28-21 by coming from behind in week eight. This year Edgewood is 4-1 after winning its first FAVC game 35-6 over Northwest High School.
Edgewood and Talawanda are slated to meet once again at Edgewood in week eight for a rematch between the top two FAVC teams of 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12.
"Edgewood is always the biggest game; it's across town and we just try and concentrate on keeping (the rivalry) on the field," senior linebacker Jared Brosey said.
In order to top Edgewood and the rest of the FAVC, the Braves have set specific goals offensively for each game, according to Wright.
"Our goal is to throw for 200 yards a game, and rush for 150," Wright said. "We're getting close to that in some games, but we haven't met that many times so far. Offensively, we've been doing a pretty good job of putting up points."
However, the defense for the Braves has allowed more than 20 points in four of the six games this season; something Wright knows must be stopped.
"Defensively we've been allowing too many points; you can't give up 35 or 28 points and expect to win many games," he said. "We've given up six to eight plays for over 40 yards for touchdowns. You can't ever have one mental letdown, because the one time you don't get to the spot you're supposed to be in, there's a chance for the big play."
This Friday the Braves will travel to Northwest High School for their second game in the FAVC. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
