New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
A battle of the backs
Cheshire-Norwalk features top runners Russo and Edwards
When pondering the question of who is the best running back in the state, there are a handful of names to be considered. Depending on who is asked, the answers will vary.
That question, among others, will be put to the test on Saturday when No. 8 Cheshire travels to Norwalk in the GameTimeCT Week 4 Game of the Week.
If asking Norwalk left tackle and defensive end Brendan Gilchrist who the top running back in Connecticut is, he would replay with teammate Cam Edwards. Conversely, Chesh
ire left tackle Joe Volpe declared fellow Ram Christian Russo the top back in the state following a Week 1 victory.
Justifiable biases aside, the debate seems too close to call. The same could be said for the opposing teams in their entirety as they prepare to take the field donning their signature contrasting colors.
Cheshire is 3-0 and has outscored opponents 96-34 (plus-62) while Norwalk boasts the same undefeated record with 105 points for compared to 41 points against (plus-64).
Cheshire has had a more difficult schedule early per CIAC football point rankings, defeating Notre DameWest Haven, North Haven and Staples while Norwalk has swept the trio of Ludlowe, Warde and Danbury.
When Norwalk and Cheshire put their perfect records on the line, they will be attempting to best each other at their own game.
“I think both teams are going in with similar gameplans of stopping the run,” Norwalk coach Patrick Miller said. “Offensively we want to do what we do and both teams establish the run so is really going to come down to the trenches.”
With both team’s most prominent weapon being the ground game, Edwards and Russo will be in the spotlight.
“There is excitement, Christian is a great player,” Edwards said. “It is just competition, it’ll be who is the better running back. I’m looking to go in there excited, ready to have fun and do what I do best.”
Edwards has rushed for 685 yards on 72 carries and nine touchdowns. He also has three receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown for 10 total.
“He is special,” Miller said. “He does everything that we ask of him and we ask a lot of him in all three phases of the game. He is a special talent and is a competitive fiery kid, and when you put all that together you get a special player. I think the results speak for themselves.”
Russo has had a spectacular start to his season as well with 610 rushing yards on 64 carries and six touchdowns. He has crossed into the end zone twice in each game thus far, including a game winner against Notre Dame in Week 1.
“The 600 plus yards rushing that he has is one layer of it, it is not the whole picture,” Cheshire coach Don Drust said. “He is a tremendous leader and a tremendous person, he is so many different things. It is not an anomaly, it is because of his preparation, and when he gets between the white lines the product is the product.”
Both backs are currently averaging an eye-popping 9.5 yards per carry.
“On both sides this game will be about the guys up front,” Miller said. “It will be a tough physical game. It might last an hour and a half because both teams like to run the ball but it will come down to the offensive and defensive lines.”
Both lines will run out six men, with Volpe leading the Cheshire six and Gilchrist at the helm of the Norwalk line.
“They have been great,” Miller said. “Cam only gets those numbers with what those guys are doing. They are a tough physical group and they work extremely hard. Cam and that unit really compliment each other nicely.”
Norwalk’s defensive line has seen steady improvement on a weekly basis according to Gilchrist, having cut its Week 1 total of being called offsides 10 times to just once in Week 3 against Danbury.
The Rams defensive line had no trouble against a run-oriented North Haven offense, though the threat presented by Edwards and the Bears could prove to be more challenging.
“Those six guys have done a great job up front through the first three games,” Drust said. “You put a back like Christian behind those guys who are willing to do the work and you get the product.”
Cheshire has run the ball on 74% of its offensive snaps while Norwalk has gone to the ground nearly 78% of the time.
“They are big, they’re physical and they’re fast,” Miller said. “It is a different challenge so we are excited to see how we stack up to it.”
The similarities don’t stop at the formation and strategy, both teams are developing a consistent passing game with firstyear quarterbacks.
Junior Shawn Brown has played every down under center for Norwalk while Michael Jeffery has solidified himself as the Rams starter.
“Brown is very talented kid with a good arm and is athletic,” Miller said “He will text me all day about things that he saw in film. He has all the tools and as we get the chemistry in pass game going we expect him to only get better from here.”
“Jefferey is super intelligent and plays with a savvy to him,” Drust said. “He understands the varsity athletic stage and he is a student of the game and on top of that he has talent and is athletic. He keeps developing week to week.”
The result could be a mirroring back and forth contest when the teams line up on Saturday, and both sides are preparing for it.
“It is not what we usually see in the FCIAC with the spread teams,” Miller said. “We are looking at a team that is very similar to ourselves in philosophy, formation and the plays that we run.”
“You prepare every week for your opponent that you are going to see,” Drust said. “There is no hiding from what it is, Edwards is tremendous. You have to prepare that way, you treat every week as an individual week and that doesn’t change.”
With no clear advantage to conclude from the numbers, perhaps the home crowd could sway the needle towards Norwalk.
“The Bear Pack is Real!” Miller said. “I had my first experience when we played against Warde. I had heard things about it but it was great. Having coached at Sheehan I know ‘Ram Land’ is a tough place to play, so I am sure they will be taking the trip down 95 to watch their guys. This is a real one right here.”
One thing is certain, Saturday will be a test of which team is best at what they both do.
“I think it is going to be a great game for both teams on both sides of the ball,” Edwards said. “It will be a great fight and it will come down to who makes the fewest mistakes, and who has the better defense.”