HEMOTOXIC
10-26-2010, 12:20 PM
http://www.brazossports.com/football/BOWEN--Rattlers-shake-bad-start
BOWEN: Rattlers shake bad start
Published Tuesday, October 26, 2010 12:29 AM
Everybody who thought the Navasota football team was in trouble a month ago, gather up. The line starts behind me.
Last week the Rattlers beat ninth-ranked and previously undefeated Caldwell 34-20 to take sole possession of the District 23-3A lead with two games remaining in the regular season. Navasota (6-2, 3-0) has won four consecutive games.
Talk about a turnaround. Navasota carried a 2-2 record into October, having lost back-to-back games against Rudder (17-0) and 2A Cameron (35-33). Those teams just dropped down from 3A this year and Cameron is state-ranked, but the losses raised questions about a Navasota program that reached the third round of the state playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
"Rudder's a great football team but we kind of went out and flopped in that game, didn't play well," Navasota coach Lee Fedora said. "I think it kind of got our kids to understand that you better prepare each and every week, because on any given Friday you have a chance to get beat.
"I was real concerned as a head coach for the first time that week, [wondering] just how this group was going to respond. In years past we always responded well, but you never know with a new team. We had a great week of practice and played a good football game [against Cameron]."
The Rattlers defense has bounced back big-time after that rough outing against Cameron. Navasota has allowed 45 points in its last four games, giving up a combined 13 points in solid district wins over Rockdale and La Grange.
Even though Navasota had to replace all four starters along the line, Fedora expected defense to be a team strength this season. The Rattlers lived up to expectations during the second half against Caldwell, holding the dangerous Hornets to 69 yards.
"I've got the best defensive coordinator in the state in Bill Hoppers," Fedora said. "Our kids adjusted well at halftime. Coach Hoppers and our defensive staff got our kids focused on what they needed to do and they pretty much shut them down."
Fedora rightfully is known as an offensive-minded coach. He played receiver at A&M Consolidated under Ross Rogers, and as a head coach he has put together some outstanding attacks with college prospects such as Brandal Jackson, Dexter Pratt, Kye Hildreth and Jacolby Stokes.
Navasota coaches knew they could rebuild this year's defense around stud linebacker Kesnick Jones. They might not have envisioned the pieces coming together quite this well because the new parts were smaller and younger.
The defensive line has been exceptional, according to Fedora. The starters are tackles Dillon Arrington and Jaylyin Minor, along with ends Justin Whitfield and Josh Thomas. It's an interesting group. Whitfield, Arrington and Minor began the year as tailbacks on offense. Minor is a sophomore and Thomas is a junior.
"We lost a lot of kids on defense, lost a lot of size," Fedora said. "What Coach Hoppers has done is put a lot of skilled athletes on the field. Whitfield and Arrington are playing great. Minor has been a big surprise for us. It ain't the biggest guys, but it's guys that can fly around and make plays."
Navasota's linebacker corps includes seniors Jones and Alfon Taylor, who switched from safety this season, along with sophomore Will Imhoff. The Rattlers have another sophomore defensive starter in cornerback Xavier Creeks.
The sophomores benefited from extra practice time last season during Navasota's playoff run. It's an advantage the younger Rattlers could gain again this year, something that seemed unlikely at the end of September.
BOWEN: Rattlers shake bad start
Published Tuesday, October 26, 2010 12:29 AM
Everybody who thought the Navasota football team was in trouble a month ago, gather up. The line starts behind me.
Last week the Rattlers beat ninth-ranked and previously undefeated Caldwell 34-20 to take sole possession of the District 23-3A lead with two games remaining in the regular season. Navasota (6-2, 3-0) has won four consecutive games.
Talk about a turnaround. Navasota carried a 2-2 record into October, having lost back-to-back games against Rudder (17-0) and 2A Cameron (35-33). Those teams just dropped down from 3A this year and Cameron is state-ranked, but the losses raised questions about a Navasota program that reached the third round of the state playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
"Rudder's a great football team but we kind of went out and flopped in that game, didn't play well," Navasota coach Lee Fedora said. "I think it kind of got our kids to understand that you better prepare each and every week, because on any given Friday you have a chance to get beat.
"I was real concerned as a head coach for the first time that week, [wondering] just how this group was going to respond. In years past we always responded well, but you never know with a new team. We had a great week of practice and played a good football game [against Cameron]."
The Rattlers defense has bounced back big-time after that rough outing against Cameron. Navasota has allowed 45 points in its last four games, giving up a combined 13 points in solid district wins over Rockdale and La Grange.
Even though Navasota had to replace all four starters along the line, Fedora expected defense to be a team strength this season. The Rattlers lived up to expectations during the second half against Caldwell, holding the dangerous Hornets to 69 yards.
"I've got the best defensive coordinator in the state in Bill Hoppers," Fedora said. "Our kids adjusted well at halftime. Coach Hoppers and our defensive staff got our kids focused on what they needed to do and they pretty much shut them down."
Fedora rightfully is known as an offensive-minded coach. He played receiver at A&M Consolidated under Ross Rogers, and as a head coach he has put together some outstanding attacks with college prospects such as Brandal Jackson, Dexter Pratt, Kye Hildreth and Jacolby Stokes.
Navasota coaches knew they could rebuild this year's defense around stud linebacker Kesnick Jones. They might not have envisioned the pieces coming together quite this well because the new parts were smaller and younger.
The defensive line has been exceptional, according to Fedora. The starters are tackles Dillon Arrington and Jaylyin Minor, along with ends Justin Whitfield and Josh Thomas. It's an interesting group. Whitfield, Arrington and Minor began the year as tailbacks on offense. Minor is a sophomore and Thomas is a junior.
"We lost a lot of kids on defense, lost a lot of size," Fedora said. "What Coach Hoppers has done is put a lot of skilled athletes on the field. Whitfield and Arrington are playing great. Minor has been a big surprise for us. It ain't the biggest guys, but it's guys that can fly around and make plays."
Navasota's linebacker corps includes seniors Jones and Alfon Taylor, who switched from safety this season, along with sophomore Will Imhoff. The Rattlers have another sophomore defensive starter in cornerback Xavier Creeks.
The sophomores benefited from extra practice time last season during Navasota's playoff run. It's an advantage the younger Rattlers could gain again this year, something that seemed unlikely at the end of September.