Rosewood faces stern test against Midway

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on September 6, 2013 1:47 PM

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Rosewood has played two games and the feeling around Branch Pope Field is overwhelmingly positive.

The Eagles are 1-1 overall.

The offense has been consistent and explosive.

The defense has been willing to grind out series.

All in all, head coach Robert Britt is in a pretty good mood and the fans are excited about the Eagles' prospects. Rosewood opened the season with a competitive, 35-21 loss against Charles B. Aycock and dominated Chocowinity Southside, 41-24, a week ago.

Now comes the first true test of the season -- unbeaten Midway at Spivey's Corner. The contest should serve as a barometer of Eagles' position in the Class 1-A ranks.

"Midway is a good team and we know we have to be at our best if we want to get a win," Britt said. "They are a consistent playoff team and Coach (Tommy) Sloan does a good job down there of getting his guys ready every week.

"The first two games we have shown that we can move the ball consistently. Obviously, we need to keep working on the little things and the fundamentals."

When the teams line up today, Rosewood may think it's looking straight into a mirror. The teams resemble each other in some ways.

"Midway has a few more kids than us, but not many," Britt said. "As far as team makeup is concerned it is about as close to even as we can get."

The Raiders' defense held Princeton to just seven points in a 14-7 victory last week. Quarterback Taylor Calcutt made a living extending plays with his legs and finished with 95 yards rushing on 14 attempts. He also completed five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Slowing down Calcutt will be the key to a Rosewood win.

"(Calcutt) is a very mobile quarterback who is just as big of a threat when he pulls it down and runs," Britt said. "We will scheme some things with the defensive line to hopefully keep him in front of us. The key defensively will be sure tackling."

Midway won last year's meeting 44-7 -- a bitter memory that the Rosewood players would like to avenge.