Keith7
11-27-2003, 02:10 PM
Leopards Ready to face Forney
Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Quincy Carter, Chris Brown.
Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker, Emmitt Smith, Terrius Purvey.
Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcells, Jeff Cordell.
Gainesville Leopards players and coaches might feel like Dallas Cowboys
legends when they take the field Friday afternoon for a Class 3A
quarterfinal playoff against Forney at Texas Stadium.
It will mark the first time a Leopard team has played at Texas Stadium
since the 1978 state championship game against Brownwood.
:It's special," GHS head coach Jeff Cordell said of the Texas Stadium
experience. "There have been some great people out on that field, from
Tom Landry to Roger Staubach. I wanted to reward the kids and give them
the opportunity to play in that stadium. These kids deserve it and this
coaching staff deserves it."
Now, Cordell and his staff have to be able to get the players to think
more about the game and less about the stadium they are playing in.
"That goes through your mind, but like I told the kids, that stadium is
great and it's home of the Dallas Cowboys, but if you go out there to
Leeper Stadium, it's the same length and the same width, it just happens
to have a big ol' star out in the middle of it," he said. "You can't get
caught up in all the shock and awe of that stadium. You have to get out
there and take care of business."
The Leopards took care of business Saturday night, defeating Texarkana
Liberty Eylau 31-14 to advance to the third round of the playoffs for
the first time since 1994. Gainesville had made it to the second round
two of the past three years, but were never able to get over the hump.
"Like I said the other night, it's a big relief for these kids that have
been here for four years to get that obstacle out of the way," Cordell
said. "Everyone has worked their tails off and it's nice to see our kids
and our staff rewarded."
Now the Leopards (12-0) get to play a Forney Jackrabbit team that is
11-1, averages 47 points a game, and has scored at least 50 points in
seven-straight games.
Leading the way for the Rabbits is senior tailback Baylen Laury, who has
rushed for 2,068 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. They also have an
outstanding quarterback in senior Caleb Hanie, who has passed for 1,371
yards, 22 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions.
Gainesville should be somewhat familiar with Forney since the two teams
have scrimmaged each of the past two years. The Leopards pretty much
dominated the Rabbits in this year's scrimmage, but Laury didn't play
and neither team showed their entire package.
"You really can't go on a scrimmage," Cordell said. "It's been so long
ago and things have changed so much. They weren't at full strength as
far as their offense and defense is concerned and we weren't at full go.
We had different people in different positions. They didn't have their
stud back there at running back. I think our teams have drastically
changed since that scrimmage. We're just going to continue doing what
we've been doing for 12 weeks."
Like the Leopards, Forney's running back and quarterback might get all
the attention, but what makes them go is the big guys up front, led by
guard Bram Johnson (6-6, 280) and tackle Nick Najarro (6-2, 275).
"Their offensive line does a tremendous job of opening holes for that
guy (Laury) and he is as good as Terrius Purvey," Cordell said. "He does
a great job of setting up blocks. He has incredible vision and is
extremely fast. He is the one guy that we have to be able to take out of
the game."
Both teams will deal with the distraction of playing a game a day after
Thanksgiving. Gainesville is out of school all week, which Cordell says
is good for his coaches but not good for his players.
"Our staff is able to concentrate just on football and not have to teach
classes, not that it's not important. But with our kids, now they are
out of their routine as far as going to school and coming to practice,"
he said. "Now they have a little more time on their hands and sometimes
that becomes a distraction. But I think our kids are at the point where
they understand what this opportunity means and they are going to do
everything they can to take advantage."
Courtesy of: Go Red Sports and Darin Alred (http://www.goredsports.com)
Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Quincy Carter, Chris Brown.
Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker, Emmitt Smith, Terrius Purvey.
Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcells, Jeff Cordell.
Gainesville Leopards players and coaches might feel like Dallas Cowboys
legends when they take the field Friday afternoon for a Class 3A
quarterfinal playoff against Forney at Texas Stadium.
It will mark the first time a Leopard team has played at Texas Stadium
since the 1978 state championship game against Brownwood.
:It's special," GHS head coach Jeff Cordell said of the Texas Stadium
experience. "There have been some great people out on that field, from
Tom Landry to Roger Staubach. I wanted to reward the kids and give them
the opportunity to play in that stadium. These kids deserve it and this
coaching staff deserves it."
Now, Cordell and his staff have to be able to get the players to think
more about the game and less about the stadium they are playing in.
"That goes through your mind, but like I told the kids, that stadium is
great and it's home of the Dallas Cowboys, but if you go out there to
Leeper Stadium, it's the same length and the same width, it just happens
to have a big ol' star out in the middle of it," he said. "You can't get
caught up in all the shock and awe of that stadium. You have to get out
there and take care of business."
The Leopards took care of business Saturday night, defeating Texarkana
Liberty Eylau 31-14 to advance to the third round of the playoffs for
the first time since 1994. Gainesville had made it to the second round
two of the past three years, but were never able to get over the hump.
"Like I said the other night, it's a big relief for these kids that have
been here for four years to get that obstacle out of the way," Cordell
said. "Everyone has worked their tails off and it's nice to see our kids
and our staff rewarded."
Now the Leopards (12-0) get to play a Forney Jackrabbit team that is
11-1, averages 47 points a game, and has scored at least 50 points in
seven-straight games.
Leading the way for the Rabbits is senior tailback Baylen Laury, who has
rushed for 2,068 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. They also have an
outstanding quarterback in senior Caleb Hanie, who has passed for 1,371
yards, 22 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions.
Gainesville should be somewhat familiar with Forney since the two teams
have scrimmaged each of the past two years. The Leopards pretty much
dominated the Rabbits in this year's scrimmage, but Laury didn't play
and neither team showed their entire package.
"You really can't go on a scrimmage," Cordell said. "It's been so long
ago and things have changed so much. They weren't at full strength as
far as their offense and defense is concerned and we weren't at full go.
We had different people in different positions. They didn't have their
stud back there at running back. I think our teams have drastically
changed since that scrimmage. We're just going to continue doing what
we've been doing for 12 weeks."
Like the Leopards, Forney's running back and quarterback might get all
the attention, but what makes them go is the big guys up front, led by
guard Bram Johnson (6-6, 280) and tackle Nick Najarro (6-2, 275).
"Their offensive line does a tremendous job of opening holes for that
guy (Laury) and he is as good as Terrius Purvey," Cordell said. "He does
a great job of setting up blocks. He has incredible vision and is
extremely fast. He is the one guy that we have to be able to take out of
the game."
Both teams will deal with the distraction of playing a game a day after
Thanksgiving. Gainesville is out of school all week, which Cordell says
is good for his coaches but not good for his players.
"Our staff is able to concentrate just on football and not have to teach
classes, not that it's not important. But with our kids, now they are
out of their routine as far as going to school and coming to practice,"
he said. "Now they have a little more time on their hands and sometimes
that becomes a distraction. But I think our kids are at the point where
they understand what this opportunity means and they are going to do
everything they can to take advantage."
Courtesy of: Go Red Sports and Darin Alred (http://www.goredsports.com)