Scoop27
10-11-2013, 09:39 AM
By JOEL LUNA joel.luna@thefacts.com | 0 comments
SWEENY — The Sweeny Bulldogs are not fooled that a premier team like La Marque is having a down season with a 2-3 overall record.
In fact the Bulldogs (4-1) understand that once District 24-3A kicks off the slate is clean. That day is today as the Cougars come to Bulldog Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff to begin the second season.
“We are absolutely not going to be fooled with their record,” Sweeny coach Paul Kilby said. “We are hoping to control the football and secure it to try to keep it away from that bunch. We need to knock off a lot of time when we have the ball.”
La Marque’s three losses have come against some pretty good teams in the state, Houston St. Pius (17-14), Coldspring (24-22) and Texas City (56-35). Despite playing those high caliber teams, the Cougars bring in a defense that is giving up 223.8 yards a contest.
“That is a pretty good shut-down defense,” Kilby said. “Especially that No. 5 (Val Allen, senior linebacker) because he has a nose for the football and knows where the football is at all times.
“So that means that we have to do our jobs by carrying out our fakes as best as possible,” Kilby said. “We need to slow down their defense and the only way we can do that is by doing our jobs.”
One big way the Bulldogs can keep that ball away is with their successful slot-T offense, which is producing 456.6 yards a game. Dorland Fields (106 carries, 886, 15 TDs) and Anthany Simmons (73-669, eight TDs) are in the top five rushers in the district along with Jamarkus Averhart, Hermond Holmes and Zedrick White, will have to play well.
“We have to be able to control the football, but with that we are also going to have to make some big stops on defense,” Kilby said. “And with that said our kicking game has to improve.”
So far juniors Blayne Bailey (nine extra points, field goal) and Dallas Blackstock (six extra points) along with senior Brendan Frankum (two extra points) have all taken their turns at the kicking game.
Offensively the Cougars are averaging 303 yards a contest with junior quarterback Ladarrian Ellis-Jones a major part. Jones has run for 431 yards on 116 attempts and five touchdowns and has also thrown for 359 yards on 29 completions. From his 63 attempts, Jones has four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Another runner to look out for is Daquan Jones, who has had 36 carries for 228 yards, a 6.33 per-carry average and three end zone visits.
Mike Hardeman (12 catches, 188 yards, four touchdowns) and Reggie Franklin (7-59, TD) have been Jones’ main targets so far this season. Franklin (32-yard average) is also a pretty dangerous punt returner.
Senior defensive back Chason Douglas (four interceptions) is another high flyer for the Cougars.
“It is always good when you don’t have to go into La Marque and face all of that tradition,” Kilby said. “We just hope our crowd will be out there in full force.”
La Marque (27-7) last year won the only encounter between these two teams.
SWEENY — The Sweeny Bulldogs are not fooled that a premier team like La Marque is having a down season with a 2-3 overall record.
In fact the Bulldogs (4-1) understand that once District 24-3A kicks off the slate is clean. That day is today as the Cougars come to Bulldog Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff to begin the second season.
“We are absolutely not going to be fooled with their record,” Sweeny coach Paul Kilby said. “We are hoping to control the football and secure it to try to keep it away from that bunch. We need to knock off a lot of time when we have the ball.”
La Marque’s three losses have come against some pretty good teams in the state, Houston St. Pius (17-14), Coldspring (24-22) and Texas City (56-35). Despite playing those high caliber teams, the Cougars bring in a defense that is giving up 223.8 yards a contest.
“That is a pretty good shut-down defense,” Kilby said. “Especially that No. 5 (Val Allen, senior linebacker) because he has a nose for the football and knows where the football is at all times.
“So that means that we have to do our jobs by carrying out our fakes as best as possible,” Kilby said. “We need to slow down their defense and the only way we can do that is by doing our jobs.”
One big way the Bulldogs can keep that ball away is with their successful slot-T offense, which is producing 456.6 yards a game. Dorland Fields (106 carries, 886, 15 TDs) and Anthany Simmons (73-669, eight TDs) are in the top five rushers in the district along with Jamarkus Averhart, Hermond Holmes and Zedrick White, will have to play well.
“We have to be able to control the football, but with that we are also going to have to make some big stops on defense,” Kilby said. “And with that said our kicking game has to improve.”
So far juniors Blayne Bailey (nine extra points, field goal) and Dallas Blackstock (six extra points) along with senior Brendan Frankum (two extra points) have all taken their turns at the kicking game.
Offensively the Cougars are averaging 303 yards a contest with junior quarterback Ladarrian Ellis-Jones a major part. Jones has run for 431 yards on 116 attempts and five touchdowns and has also thrown for 359 yards on 29 completions. From his 63 attempts, Jones has four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Another runner to look out for is Daquan Jones, who has had 36 carries for 228 yards, a 6.33 per-carry average and three end zone visits.
Mike Hardeman (12 catches, 188 yards, four touchdowns) and Reggie Franklin (7-59, TD) have been Jones’ main targets so far this season. Franklin (32-yard average) is also a pretty dangerous punt returner.
Senior defensive back Chason Douglas (four interceptions) is another high flyer for the Cougars.
“It is always good when you don’t have to go into La Marque and face all of that tradition,” Kilby said. “We just hope our crowd will be out there in full force.”
La Marque (27-7) last year won the only encounter between these two teams.