CLARKSBURG (WVDN) – After two tumultuous games to start the season, the Greenbrier East Spartans got their first win of the season, 42-14 on the road at Robert C. Byrd, the 10th ranked team in the state according to the power index.
The Spartans looked like a completely different team, a team that was determined to get back on the winning side after feeling as though the community’s confidence in them was waning.
But after this game, the confidence is creeping back up heading into this Friday’s game at Stuart’s Draft, Va.
Here’s what went right against the Eagles of RCB.
Ian Cline is back.
Junior running back Ian Cline entered 2022 with lofty expectations after a record-breaking sophomore campaign last fall. However, through the first two games, Cline had run for just 66 yards though he did have three touchdowns and a passing touchdown. So, it was not all negative, but the big plays from Cline had not been there yet.
Against the Eagles that all changed. The Spartans offensive line finally got cohesive and blocked well and Cline was able to pick up 249 yards and three scores on the ground. He also added 94 yards receiving and a score as well.
With Cline trending upward, the Spartans will trend that way too.
East’s offensive line was dominant.
Without great offensive line play, Cline struggles. That goes without saying for any running back ever to play football not named Barry Sanders.
But coach Ray Lee and his offensive staff seemed to have found a good combination up front. They completely dominated a big RCB defensive front and at times, manhandled them.
That kind of effort speaks volumes to the staff after two dismal weeks of play for the big guys.
As the season moves forward, the line has proven they can still get it done and they will continue to improve into the coming weeks.
The Spartan defense was also dominant.
Outside of a garbage time 75-yard run against all backups, the East defense also had something to prove. East had allowed nearly 1,000 yards rushing in two games and frankly, the defense had spent most of 2022 on their heels.
But, against RCB they showed up early and often. They held star Eagles quarterback Nick George to 88 yards passing on just 8-for-22.
Coming into the game, George had thrown for 593 yards, rushed for over 100 and had nine touchdowns. The Spartans pressured him all night and as soon as George realized his night was going to be a struggle, the rest of his team followed with that same mindset. East led 35-0 before RCB got on the scoreboard and was never threatened once on the night. Kudos to the players and to defensive coordinator Aaron Baker.
East now has confidence.
East will now head into a bout with Stuarts Draft (2-0) this weekend with a lot of confidence. Sometimes all it takes is one game to change a team’s season and defeating a team as talented as the Eagles will definitely put the Spartans on the positive end of the scale.
As mentioned above, it was the way East won that was impressive.
They had 21 first downs to RCB’s seven. East had 535 total yards and held the Eagles to 227, which 75 came on one play when the game was already decided.
With this effort week in and week out, the Spartans will be back to being a thorn in every team’s side they play.
