texasjeremy
09-08-2005, 07:38 PM
Palestine focuses on Henderson
9-8-05
By SCOTT TYLER
H-P Sports Editor
Coaches always talk about the dangers of looking further down the road past the upcoming game.
That is truly the case this week for the Palestine Wildcats. On the horizon for the Wildcats are road games at Jacksonville and Tatum, but Palestine still has to get through Henderson Friday night.
"One of our focuses every week is that Friday night game," Palestine head coach Glen Tunstall said. "We try to push that through their heads because it is not wise to look ahead."
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.
While Henderson comes into Wildcat Stadium with an 0-2 record and Palestine has started out the season by winning its first two games, Tunstall said to throw the records out the window.
"We have played each other so often that it does not matter what the records are going to be," Tunstall said. "It is going to be a good football game."
Henderson has started the season with a 47-14 loss to Carthage in the opening week and a 36-14 loss Friday to Huntsville.
"In the first two games, they have been hurt by turnovers and bad special teams' play," Tunstall said. "But we know if they play mistake free, they are a really tough football team."
The Palestine coaching staff is expecting Henderson to show a multiple of formations from a pro-I formation to a spread look with four wide receivers.
"We have to make sure we line up correctly to the different formations and read our keys," Palestine defensive coordinator Booker Bowie said.
Bowie said the focus against Henderson will be stopping quarterback Kylon Henson, who is 13-of-27 passing for 166 yards and has rushed for 62 yards in the Lions' two games.
"He is one of their best athletes so we need to find a way to slow him down," Bowie said of Henson.
Palestine put the clamps on Henson's running game last year, as he was held to negative-4 yards. Henson did give the Wildcat secondary some trouble as he threw for 301 yards and three TDs.
Bowie said he wants to see his defense limit the big plays against Henderson. In the last two weeks, the only way teams have scored against the Wildcats have been on big plays. On Friday, Carthage scored on plays of 55, 79 and 88 yards.
"I want to see us play 48 minutes without giving up the big play for a touchdown," Bowie said.
However, Bowie is pleased that other than five big plays for touchdowns this year, opposing teams have not been able to put together drives against the Wildcat defense.
"That is what I like about our kids, they have not allowed a team to put together a string of good plays," Bowie said. "Now we just have to cut down on the mental breakdowns which lead to the big plays."
Like the Wildcat defense, the Palestine offense will be looking across the line of scrimmage at a squad that likes to give different looks.
"On defense, Henderson tries to keep you guessing," Tunstall said.
The key for the Palestine offense against Henderson is to follow the rules.
"We just need to stick with our rules because our scheme is set up where it does not matter what the defense does," Palestine offensive coordinator Tommy Allison said. "If we just follow our rules, everything will take care of itself."
The Palestine offense has been averaging 318 yards a game in the early part of the season but Allison believes the offense has not reached its potential.
"We have shown signs of being very good but we still have lulls during the game and spots were we don't produce," Allison said.
Allison continues to see improvement from the Palestine running game, which he credits to the team coming together.
"We came in with a inexperienced offensive line and three new running backs so they are starting to put it together," Allison said. "Our running game has come a long ways since the scrimmage and took a big step forward last week against Carthage."
Palestine has yet to have a running back go over the century mark. The only player to reach 100 yards in a game has been quarterback Devin Stephens, who rushed for 124 yards in an opening week win over Whitehouse.
"We are still waiting for one of our three backs to break loose," Tunstall said.
Allison is not too concerned about a running back eclipsing the 100-yard mark in a game because Palestine is averaging 194.5 yards a game on the ground.
"Our ultimate goal is to win football games and our three running backs have bought into that," Allison said. "The one thing I took out of the Carthage game was how our backs supported each other when we scored.
"We want unselfish people what will do their jobs to win the football game."
Palestine has shown a balanced backfield as Trevlyn Reed and Paul Kennedy each had 10 carries against Carthage while Montrell Johnson carried the ball five times and Stephens had six carries.
"Because we have a rotation, there should never be a snap where we get less than 100 percent from our backs," Allison said. "We know they are going to give us their best on every play."
Notes: Palestine has a two-game winning streak over Henderson after defeating the Loins 49-28 last year, winning for the first time in Henderson since 1969. Palestine's win over Henderson in 2003 snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Lions. ...Palestine is looking to start the season 3-0 for the fourth straight year. ...The Palestine defense has held opponents to a 16-percent third down conversion rate.
9-8-05
By SCOTT TYLER
H-P Sports Editor
Coaches always talk about the dangers of looking further down the road past the upcoming game.
That is truly the case this week for the Palestine Wildcats. On the horizon for the Wildcats are road games at Jacksonville and Tatum, but Palestine still has to get through Henderson Friday night.
"One of our focuses every week is that Friday night game," Palestine head coach Glen Tunstall said. "We try to push that through their heads because it is not wise to look ahead."
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.
While Henderson comes into Wildcat Stadium with an 0-2 record and Palestine has started out the season by winning its first two games, Tunstall said to throw the records out the window.
"We have played each other so often that it does not matter what the records are going to be," Tunstall said. "It is going to be a good football game."
Henderson has started the season with a 47-14 loss to Carthage in the opening week and a 36-14 loss Friday to Huntsville.
"In the first two games, they have been hurt by turnovers and bad special teams' play," Tunstall said. "But we know if they play mistake free, they are a really tough football team."
The Palestine coaching staff is expecting Henderson to show a multiple of formations from a pro-I formation to a spread look with four wide receivers.
"We have to make sure we line up correctly to the different formations and read our keys," Palestine defensive coordinator Booker Bowie said.
Bowie said the focus against Henderson will be stopping quarterback Kylon Henson, who is 13-of-27 passing for 166 yards and has rushed for 62 yards in the Lions' two games.
"He is one of their best athletes so we need to find a way to slow him down," Bowie said of Henson.
Palestine put the clamps on Henson's running game last year, as he was held to negative-4 yards. Henson did give the Wildcat secondary some trouble as he threw for 301 yards and three TDs.
Bowie said he wants to see his defense limit the big plays against Henderson. In the last two weeks, the only way teams have scored against the Wildcats have been on big plays. On Friday, Carthage scored on plays of 55, 79 and 88 yards.
"I want to see us play 48 minutes without giving up the big play for a touchdown," Bowie said.
However, Bowie is pleased that other than five big plays for touchdowns this year, opposing teams have not been able to put together drives against the Wildcat defense.
"That is what I like about our kids, they have not allowed a team to put together a string of good plays," Bowie said. "Now we just have to cut down on the mental breakdowns which lead to the big plays."
Like the Wildcat defense, the Palestine offense will be looking across the line of scrimmage at a squad that likes to give different looks.
"On defense, Henderson tries to keep you guessing," Tunstall said.
The key for the Palestine offense against Henderson is to follow the rules.
"We just need to stick with our rules because our scheme is set up where it does not matter what the defense does," Palestine offensive coordinator Tommy Allison said. "If we just follow our rules, everything will take care of itself."
The Palestine offense has been averaging 318 yards a game in the early part of the season but Allison believes the offense has not reached its potential.
"We have shown signs of being very good but we still have lulls during the game and spots were we don't produce," Allison said.
Allison continues to see improvement from the Palestine running game, which he credits to the team coming together.
"We came in with a inexperienced offensive line and three new running backs so they are starting to put it together," Allison said. "Our running game has come a long ways since the scrimmage and took a big step forward last week against Carthage."
Palestine has yet to have a running back go over the century mark. The only player to reach 100 yards in a game has been quarterback Devin Stephens, who rushed for 124 yards in an opening week win over Whitehouse.
"We are still waiting for one of our three backs to break loose," Tunstall said.
Allison is not too concerned about a running back eclipsing the 100-yard mark in a game because Palestine is averaging 194.5 yards a game on the ground.
"Our ultimate goal is to win football games and our three running backs have bought into that," Allison said. "The one thing I took out of the Carthage game was how our backs supported each other when we scored.
"We want unselfish people what will do their jobs to win the football game."
Palestine has shown a balanced backfield as Trevlyn Reed and Paul Kennedy each had 10 carries against Carthage while Montrell Johnson carried the ball five times and Stephens had six carries.
"Because we have a rotation, there should never be a snap where we get less than 100 percent from our backs," Allison said. "We know they are going to give us their best on every play."
Notes: Palestine has a two-game winning streak over Henderson after defeating the Loins 49-28 last year, winning for the first time in Henderson since 1969. Palestine's win over Henderson in 2003 snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Lions. ...Palestine is looking to start the season 3-0 for the fourth straight year. ...The Palestine defense has held opponents to a 16-percent third down conversion rate.