Directions to Clear Creek-Amana

Exit north off Interstate 80 at mile marker 237 onto Railroad Street. Follow Railroad Street north approximately 1/2 mile. Railroad Street will curve to the right. After the curve, turn left on College Street. Follow College Street north 2 blocks, turn left into school lot.

There hasn’t been much of a history between the Oskaloosa and Clear Creek-Amana football teams.

In fact, there isn’t any. Why? Because they haven’t met on the gridiron before.

That will change Friday when the Indians (2-3, 2-1) take on the 3-2, 2-1 Clippers at 7:30 p.m. with the winner getting third place in Class 3A, District 5 all to its lonesome.

The Clippers, who were shut out by district co-leader Mount Pleasant 21-0 last week, run a fairly wide-open offense that Oskaloosa will get used to in the coming weeks. Both Fairfield and Mount Pleasant run similar offenses in the next two weeks.

“That’s always something we that have to be prepared for,” Oskaloosa coach Darrell Schumacher said. “They run that shotgun stuff and four or five receivers so we have to be ready for that. It’s not something we’ve seen before.

“We actually like to face teams that throw the ball around rather a team like Williamsburg every week.”

Clear Creek-Amana is third in the district in pass offense with 711 yards this season.

Blaze Smith is the district’s second-leading passer with 627 yards on 47 of 96 passing and five touchdowns. Four of his receivers have caught 10 or more passes with Josh Showalter leading the way with 16 reception for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Zack west and Travis dimmer both have hauled in a dozen passes for 174 and 127 yards respectively. Ted Hergert has also caught double-digit passes with 10 for 162 yards.

The Indians have been a relatively tough team to throw against as they have picked off eight passes. Three players — Drew Ruggles, Andrew Reed and Wiebe Goodyk — have intercepted the quarterback two times each.

Schumacher hopes the team is going to play the same type of defense the Indians played in the second half against Fort Madison — holding the Bloodhounds to 45 yards in the second half.

“We put a lot of pressure on the quarterback in the second half and consequently, that caused some interceptions and one went back for a touchdown by Drew,” he said. “That kind of got our offense geared up. We’ll play hard and our kids will have cofidence in that defense and will work hard this week to get things done.

“We’ll try and pressure him (Smith) with four or five guys and come from all over the field. It’s important we don’t do the same thing all the time because that will give them chances to adjust.”