Silsbee vs. Palestine

[lilt1506]

predictions

[texasjeremy]

On paper it looks to be dead even. Silsbee's stats are slightly better, but Palestine has played a slightly stronger schedule. Both teams are the #1 seeds out of their respective districts.

[texasjeremy]

Palestine running into playoffs

11-7-04
By Scott Tyler
H-P Sports Editor


The 2004 Palestine running game may be as productive as last year but it has a different look.

This year's Wildcats are averaging 245.3 rushing yards a game in what Palestine offensive coordinator Tommy Allison calls "an 11-man effort".

"Everytime we run the football, 11 guys are a factor," Allison said. "It started with the offensive line making the blocks up front, our running back or quarterback running the ball and our wide receivers blocking on the edge.

"All 11 guys is what makes it effective."

Palestine looks to continue its success on the ground, which includes averaging 6.5 yards a carry, Friday night when the Wildcats play Silsbee in the Class 3A bi-district playoff game.


"Teams that have success in the playoffs run the football," Allison said. "Hopefully the ability to throw it will make our running game better."

Coming into the season, the Palestine coaching staff came in with the idea of wanting to throw the ball as the Wildcats had four talented wide receivers.

But after 10 games this season, Palestine has run the ball 69 percent of the time. The Wildcats have recorded 67 percent of their total yardage on the ground.

Palestine has rushed for more yardage than they have thrown for in all but two games this season. The Wildcats have rushed for over 100 yards in nine games and over 300 yards in three games.

"Every week, our game plan is to attack one way or another and try to take what the defense gives us," Allison said. "With our speed and ability to throw the ball, it takes pressure off the running game.

"Our running game is successful because the defense knows any moment we can go to the air."

Palestine's formation of four wide receivers and the threat of the pass may be dictating what the opponent is going to do on defense. If opposing defenses play man-on-man coverage against the four receivers, that puts at the most seven players in the box to protect against the run.

"When in a spread offense, there are only so many ways to defense it," Allison said. "Having four receivers takes out four from the picture against the run which opens up the running game even more."

One of the biggest question marks at the beginning of the season for Palestine was the offensive line, as the Wildcats had one returning starter on the line.

"Of any part of the team, the most improved is on the offensive line," Allison said. "They are the best offensive line in the district."

The blocking for Palestine continues to its wide receivers as their first priority is not to catch passes but make blocks.

"Our wide receivers are always on the edge blocking which makes good runs into big runs," Allison said.

The effectiveness of the Palestine running game also is because of the combination of running back Cameron Jones and quarterback Fred Williams.

The coaching staff expected Jones to enter the starting job at tailback and do well and he has responded with 1,305 yards. The biggest surprise from the beginning of the season has been the running ability of Williams, who has rushed for 612 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"Fred turned our heads in the maroon and white scrimmage with the way he ran the ball," Allison said. "From that point we added him as a weapon in the running game."

Add to the running attack Nigel Cooper, who has rushed for nearly 200 yards and Trevlyn Reed and his 281 rushing yards and the Wildcats are multidimensional in its running attack.

"Even in the spread, with one back, we have so many different guys we can hand the ball to," Allison said.

[JasperDog94]

I'll take Silsbee.

[NSUTrumpet08]

I'm going for Silsbee as well...

[lilt1506]

does Palestine pass the ball any all I have heard about is there running game

[esphs]

i am cheering for palestine!