This week’s matchup with Sacred Heart and Sumrall features two teams that have started the 2018 season completely opposite from the other. The Bobcats have jumped out the gate with a 2-0 record, while the Crusaders are still searching for answers with a 0-2 mark. The game has been moved to Sacred Heart's home field due to Sumrall's field conditions.
Sumrall has shown plenty of bright spots, as well as a few areas that need to be cleaned up, while Sacred Heart is just trying to improve each week before region play begins next month. The Crusaders have lost both their games by at least 20 points to start the season.
“All of this is leading toward district play,” Sacred Heart coach Lonny Schraeder said. “All we have to do is keep getting better until we get to district.”
The Bobcats crushed South Jones to open the season, then had a low-scoring win over Wesson last week. So far, things are going according to plan for Sumrall coach Shannon White, but injuries are starting to pile up quickly.
Sumrall had a starter not return to the team after an injury in the playoff game last season, a backup offensive lineman is done for the year and senior receiver Zane Berry left last week’s game due to a knee injury. White expects Berry to miss this week, but he should be good to go soon.
“Some years you have a lot and some years have none,” White said. “I don’t know what this year holds for us, but we’ve certainly had our share already. You have to adjust and that’s why your backups get reps in practice. I really believe in that because your twos have to get quality reps. They might end up playing.”
One area that has seen nothing but success so far this season is the Sumrall defense. The unit hasn’t allowed a single point all season, but opponents have recorded a safety and ran back three kickoffs for touchdowns.
If there’s an area to clean up, kickoff coverage is it, and White is taking the blame.
“We started this year out with six starters on our defense out there, but the mistake I made as a coach is we haven’t really given up any kickoff return to work against,” White said. “That’s the equivalent of running offense plays against air and expecting guys to perform. Trust me, we’re taking care of that this week.”
On offense, senior Dannis Jackson is settling in nicely at quarterback. Last season, Schraeder and the Crusaders had to prepare for the threat of Jackson at receiver, and he burned the defense for 126 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions.
Now, Sacred Heart will have to deal with Jackson at quarterback, where he has the ball in his hands every snap.
“That dude goes from zero to full speed in one step,” Schraeder said. “He is so quick, so you have to take great angles and you have to swarm to the ball. If you just let one guy try to tackle him, he’s gone. We have to really be conscience of everybody running to the ball and taking great angles. It’s not like he can just run, he throws the ball pretty dang well, too.”
Heading into the contest Friday night, Sacred Heart is trying to take the momentum it created in the second half last week into its game with Sumrall. Schraeder said he wants his team to build off that impressive second half.
White was impressed with Sacred Heart’s effort, too, and knows the Crusaders won’t quit no matter what the scoreboard says.
I don’t like coaching clichés, but sometimes they’re true,” White said. “These are kids with great character and these are coaches that those kids like to play for, and they’re good coaches. They’re probably going to play like that every week.”
