Football Game Preview: East Alton-Wood River Oilers vs. Columbia Eagles

The East Alton-Wood River Oilers will head out to take on the Columbia Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. East Alton-Wood River is looking for their season's first win.

East Alton-Wood River's offense might be in the hot seat on Friday considering what happened against Breese Central on Friday. They were beaten by the Cougars 63-0. While losing is never fun, the Oilers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois football rankings (they are ranked 474th, while the Cougars are ranked 82nd).

The home team had won the previous five meetings between Columbia and Freeburg, and Freeburg kept the tradition alive. The Eagles took a 23-14 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Midgets on Friday. Despite 90 more yards than the Midgets, the Eagles couldn't convert that extra yardage to scores.

East Alton-Wood River will have to keep a close watch on Jackson Lawal and Jase Nelson, a pair of players who had a big impact on Columbia's prior game. Lawal gained 113 total yards and a touchdown, while Nelson rushed for 122 yards while picking up 7.6 yards per carry.

Don't try to pin the team's loss on the defense: they kept the trenches locked down and allowed a mere 2.5 yards per carry. The team can thank Dylan Robinson for the heroic effort on defense: he. Columbia didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 6.1.

Columbia's defense didn't let Joseph Carmack, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Cooper Foxx, Kason Moskop, and Broedy Furlow, who each picked up one sack apiece.

Having lost for the first time this season, Columbia fell to 4-1. As for East Alton-Wood River, their record is now 0-5.

East Alton-Wood River took a serious blow against Columbia when the teams last played back in October of 2024, falling 60-12. Can the Oilers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.