LUMBERTON – Panthers coach Zach Jones said Lumberton is used to playing tough schedules, and in 2017 his team will play another 4A school in Bay High. Jones said his players have embraced the tough tests every season, because it’ll only make them better later down the road.
Lumberton played the eventual 4A South State champions, Poplarville, last season, and played better than some 4A schools against the Hornets.
“(Bay) is really one of the only people we can get to play,” Jones said. “We have to play some bigger schools because scheduling was an issue for whatever reason. It’s going to make us better down the road, we know that.”
The Tigers of Bay High traveled to West Harrison in Week 1 and went home with a 26-12 loss to the 5A Hurricanes. The Tigers rushed for 281 yards and two touchdowns, but senior quarterback Jaylan Wilson was only 2-for-12 with 16 yards and two interceptions.
Senior Justin McKee led the offense with 20 carries for 100 yards and a score, and Wilson was second with 18 rushing attempts, 89 yards and a touchdown. Jones said their offense is a lot like his offense, too, so the familiarity in practice could help in the game.
“They’ll run some gun stuff, they’ll run some I(-formation) and they have really good quarterback who they try to feature and make sure he gets his touches,” Jones said. “We’ll have to do a really good job of containing him to have a chance to win the ballgame.”
Defensively, Bay only allowed West Harrison to gain 110 passing yards and 159 rushing yards. The Tigers allowed the Hurricanes’ quarterback to have three rushing attempts for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Also, one receiver had a 35-yard touchdown and another had a 56-yard score, so big plays hurt Bay High.
“Defensively, they get after it,” Jones said. “I think their down linemen and linebackers are really good. Their secondary, they’re sound and have really good athletes back there. It’s going to be challenge for us. It’s a 4A school, so they’re going to have more players and more depth.”
It’s still uncertain if Lumberton will play Driq Coleman at running back, after holding the senior out of the jamboree and Week 1, but 5-foot-10, 200-pound Davion Edwards carried the load last week against North Forrest. He recorded 13 rushing attempts for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Jones said Edwards “answered the bell” Friday, because he also contributed six tackles on defense.
Freshman Robert Henry showed his capabilities, too, with five carries for 45 yards – a 9-yard per carry average. Jones has been high on Henry since the summer, so it was good for the Lumberton coaches to see him have a good game early in his varsity career.
“He was a lot better offensively from the jamboree to Friday night,” Jones said. “He’s figuring it out, and we need to do a good job as coaches, with him being young, to setting himself up to succeed. I really do think he can help us.”
Henry and Edwards are just two pieces Lumberton wants to use at running back, and whenever Coleman comes back, he won’t be the only player receiving carries. Senior Jaden Galloway and Krishaun Fairley are two more backs in the crowded backfield, as well.
“Our hope is it’s a committee deal and we’re able to keep guys fresh,” Jones said. “My hope is to kind of split carries between those two. We have three other guys who can step up, too. It’s not going to be a one-man show. We need everybody to carry the weight for what we need to do offensively.”
The Panthers and Bay High will kickoff at 7 p.m. in Lumberton.
