Sacred Heart experienced a frustrating 14-0 loss to Amite School Center as the Crusaders dropped to 1-2 on the season.
“We had plenty of opportunities to win the game, and we just couldn’t take advantage of any of them,” Sacred Heart coach Ed Smith said.
According to Smith, bad snaps and penalties were the roots of the Crusaders’ loss. Sacred Heart had minus 74 yards in negative plays as well as another 30 yards from penalties.
“We were bad offensively,” Smith said. “We got outcoached, and we got outplayed. We just took a step back offensively. On defense, we played pretty good at times. We gave up a touchdown on the opening drive, and then it was basically 6-0 until the last play of the game.
“When you add up all of the (negative yardage) with our field position, that could have been three scores that we gave up going backward. Our message going into this week is that we have got to get better at taking care of our business.”
This week, Sacred Heart has a favorable matchup against winless Salem (0-3). The Wildcats have been outscored 135-28 through their first three games and come off a 60-0 loss to Loyd Star.
“They are going to have athletes,” Smith said. “Defensively, if we are out of position like we were sometimes the other night, this team has the speed to hurt you. We have got to play sound. We’ve got to tackle well.”
“Their defense brings pressure. They bring in linebackers and play-man coverage. Offensively, they are going to spread you out. They have got an athletic quarterback. They throw it, but they also like to spread him out and let him run the football because he is hard to tackle in the open field. They give you a lot of different formations.”
According to Smith, stopping Salem’s quarterback Christopher Riley will be critical. This season, Riley has thrown for 183 yards and a touchdown and has also run for 168 yards and a touchdown.
“We have to play with good technique,” Smith said. “We have got to have gap responsibility and have everybody where they are supposed to be to not let him get outside and get on the edge. If he gets on the outside, it puts the defensive backs (in a bad spot). If you run up too soon to make the tackle, he’ll pull up and throw the ball deep over your head. You have got to stay in coverage until he breaks the line of scrimmage. We have to play sound and continue to get better on defense.”
Sacred Heart hits the road to face Salem with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
