Eagles welcome powerful Bulldogs

The Covenant football team will have its hands full this afternoon when Liberty Christian comes to town.

“This is probably the toughest opponent we’ll face all season,” said Eagles coach Mark Sanford said. “But if we execute offensively, we think we can play with these guys.”

The Eagles (2-1) are hoping that their two playmakers, tailback Luke Heinsohn and receiver Andy Colberg, are able to overshadow Bulldogs quarterback Michael Rocco.

“Defensively, we just have to tackle and pursue the football,” Sanford said. “Offensively, we need to be consistent. We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot. We have to limit turnovers. Then we just have to execute our game plan.”

Heinsohn’s ability to run inside and pick up first downs allows Covenant to manage the game. In the Eagles’ first game of the year, a 28-26 victory, the senior piled up 32 carries for 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Atlantic Shores Christian.

“It definitely takes its toll when you carrying the ball 32 times,” said Heinsohn. “But it’s still really exciting. There’s nothing like Friday nights.”

When Heinsohn is successful running the ball it has opened up the offense for Colberg’s big play ability. “Obviously you can’t just gang up on Luke now,” Sanford said. “In the past that’s what teams would do, but we’ve got some guys we can spread across the field and isolate one player.”

Colberg’s ability to find the end zone is not just on the offensive side of the ball. He had four touchdowns last week in the Eagles 70-0 routing of Kettle Run: a 42-yard run, a 42-yard catch, a 15-yard blocked punt return a 99-yard interception return.

“We’re going in feeling good,” Colberg said the Eagles match up with the Bulldogs. “We believe we’ve got the team that can do this. Take nothing away from them, though. Everyone knows it’s LCA. But we think we’ve got a shot and we’re going to be spilling our guts out for it.”