bullfrog_alumni_02
09-07-2005, 04:41 PM
Good article from the Star-Telegram regarding Lake Worth's balanced attack:
Balanced attack has Lake Worth looking strong
By JOHN MILLER
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
LAKE WORTH - Heading into the season, Lake Worth felt it had an offense that could run the ball and milk the clock, or put the ball in the air if it needed to catch up.
They've demonstrated both in the first two games of the season.
With an experienced offense that includes nine returning starters, the Bullfrogs have played as if they were in midseason form, averaging 59.5 points and more than 400 yards in the victories.
"We have the potential to be a pretty explosive offense," Lake Worth offensive coordinator Anthony Smith said. "We try to stay pretty balanced. But if we have to come from behind, we have the receivers that can do it, and we have the quarterback that can throw it. If we want to line up and pound it, we have the guys up front that love to line up and mash it."
Lake Worth (2-0) opened the season with a 66-0 thrashing of Polytechnic. On Friday, the Bullfrogs fell behind 18-0 to Glen Rose, before rattling off 53 unanswered points in a 53-18 victory.
"It's going to be real tough to stop us," senior running back Jerome Thompson said. "We've got the running game, and we've got the passing game."
The offensive success has not been surprising to the Lake Worth coaches.
Among the nine starters back from last season, they return Thompson, who ran for more than 1,500 yards last season, and quarterback in Jamal Ibrahim, who threw for more than 1,400 yards.
Both have lived up to expectations.
Thompson has 189 yards on 26 carries, an average of 7.3 yards a carry. He would likely have more yards, but the Bullfrogs jumped out to a 42-0 lead at halftime against Polytechnic and Thompson (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) hardly carried the ball in the second half.
With the early lead against Polytechnic, Lake Worth kept the ball on the ground, and Ibrahim only threw five passes. But after falling behind early to Glen Rose on Friday, Ibrahim showed he can throw the ball when needed, connecting on 13 of 20 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. Three of the touchdown passes were of 16 yards or longer.
And Ibrahim (6-0, 170 pounds), who is being recruited by schools such as Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern, added a new wrinkle to his game. Primarily a passer last season, Ibrahim hasn't been afraid to tuck the ball and take off running. Against Glen Rose, Ibrahim ran for 81 yards on nine carries, including a 21-yard touchdown run.
"I worked real hard on that during the off-season -- picking which holes to run in and where the holes will open up," Ibrahim said. "I've just tried to take advantage of that because I've got a real good offensive line this year."
The offense hasn't been the only shining spot for the Bullfrogs this season. Their defense has allowed only 82 yards per game on defense, which is the best in the area among Class 3A teams.
"Our defense helps us out a lot," Ibrahim said. "Our defense allows us to control the game and the tempo of the game. It's not just about our offense."
Balanced attack has Lake Worth looking strong
By JOHN MILLER
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
LAKE WORTH - Heading into the season, Lake Worth felt it had an offense that could run the ball and milk the clock, or put the ball in the air if it needed to catch up.
They've demonstrated both in the first two games of the season.
With an experienced offense that includes nine returning starters, the Bullfrogs have played as if they were in midseason form, averaging 59.5 points and more than 400 yards in the victories.
"We have the potential to be a pretty explosive offense," Lake Worth offensive coordinator Anthony Smith said. "We try to stay pretty balanced. But if we have to come from behind, we have the receivers that can do it, and we have the quarterback that can throw it. If we want to line up and pound it, we have the guys up front that love to line up and mash it."
Lake Worth (2-0) opened the season with a 66-0 thrashing of Polytechnic. On Friday, the Bullfrogs fell behind 18-0 to Glen Rose, before rattling off 53 unanswered points in a 53-18 victory.
"It's going to be real tough to stop us," senior running back Jerome Thompson said. "We've got the running game, and we've got the passing game."
The offensive success has not been surprising to the Lake Worth coaches.
Among the nine starters back from last season, they return Thompson, who ran for more than 1,500 yards last season, and quarterback in Jamal Ibrahim, who threw for more than 1,400 yards.
Both have lived up to expectations.
Thompson has 189 yards on 26 carries, an average of 7.3 yards a carry. He would likely have more yards, but the Bullfrogs jumped out to a 42-0 lead at halftime against Polytechnic and Thompson (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) hardly carried the ball in the second half.
With the early lead against Polytechnic, Lake Worth kept the ball on the ground, and Ibrahim only threw five passes. But after falling behind early to Glen Rose on Friday, Ibrahim showed he can throw the ball when needed, connecting on 13 of 20 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. Three of the touchdown passes were of 16 yards or longer.
And Ibrahim (6-0, 170 pounds), who is being recruited by schools such as Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern, added a new wrinkle to his game. Primarily a passer last season, Ibrahim hasn't been afraid to tuck the ball and take off running. Against Glen Rose, Ibrahim ran for 81 yards on nine carries, including a 21-yard touchdown run.
"I worked real hard on that during the off-season -- picking which holes to run in and where the holes will open up," Ibrahim said. "I've just tried to take advantage of that because I've got a real good offensive line this year."
The offense hasn't been the only shining spot for the Bullfrogs this season. Their defense has allowed only 82 yards per game on defense, which is the best in the area among Class 3A teams.
"Our defense helps us out a lot," Ibrahim said. "Our defense allows us to control the game and the tempo of the game. It's not just about our offense."