After knocking Liberty from the unbeaten ranks, the Whitehall football team will look to duplicate that same attention to detail that paved the way to their victory over the ‘Canes as they prepare for Easton this week.

Head coach Brian Gilbert said that they’ll need to repeat that same level of preparation, focusing on all the little things.

“The effort we put in last week transferred over to the game,” said Gilbert. “We have to do the same thing again.”

Both teams are currently 2-2, and this will prove to be a pivotal week in determining their respective fortunes in the league. Gilbert said that the results so far in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference have demonstrated that “on any night, anybody can beat anybody.” However, a third loss would signal a death knell for an EPC championship.

The Red Rovers are coming off a disastrous game against Parkland, getting shutout 28-0. They were limited to 76 total yards for the game and only managed only two first downs.

Conversely, Whitehall had a big win over Liberty, racking up 468 total yards. It was a game in which played well in all three phases, helping them break their two-game skid.

Still, Gilbert expects the Red Rovers will be ready to play. They feature quarterback Scott Poulson who threw for 209 yards against Freedom, the most any Red Rover QB has tossed since 2009. He found receivers Jakob Herres and Trey Bailey for most of that yardage.

But their bread and butter is still the ground game. They’ll rely on Jahmel Foreman to carry most of the workload. He’s gained 186 yards so far this season.

Whitehall got a breakout performance from Dez Boykin last week. The junior receiver found the end zone three times, finishing the game with 10 catches for 207 yards. They also flourished under the stewardship of Zachary Gilbert who threw for 208 yards and two TDs against the ‘Canes.

For two weeks in a row, Zach Gilbert has put the team in the position to win. He drove them the length of the field against Nazareth with a chance to win, and then found Boykin on a jump back pass for the win against Liberty. His ability to march them down the field with the game on the line is something that’s an offshoot of his preparation and the players around him.

“I just have a lot of confidence in my receivers and my offensive line, which makes it easier on me,” said Zach Gilbert.

He said that their off-season training, especially their 7-on7 drills, prepared him for this type of scenario where you have to quickly work the ball down the field. Once he gets into the flow of a game, “it just comes naturally.”

As for the game-winning throw, Zach Gilbert said they’ll run that play once a game, setting it up by making the defense honor his rollout ability to his left, his throwing hand. That leaves Boykin one-on-one with a cornerback and Gilbert likes that match-up.

“I like Dez’s chances with any corner in the league,” said Zach Gilbert.

Last year the Zephyrs lost 45-0 to Easton, their worst loss of the year.

Zach Gilbert said that’s been something that’s motivated them this week. However, he knows that Easton will be looking to stop Whitehall on their home turf.

“We know they’re going to be hungry and ready to play,” said Zach Gilbert. “They don’t want to lose two games in a row.”

Gilbert said that this year’s version is still a “traditional Easton team.” While they may throw the ball more this season, Steve Shiffert’s squad still likes to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball.

“It’s a typical Easton team, always tough and well coached,” said Gilbert. “They’re going to stay on you.”

Gilbert said that they have to be ready to match their physicality.

“When you play Easton, you have to be physical,” he said.

That’s what Parkland did well and it earned them a decisive win. The Zephs will try and duplicate that blueprint.