This week, he seeks to keep new Bastrop Bears coach Ron Schroeder from doing the same.
Schroeder is back in coaching after guiding Austin Westlake to five state championship games between 1987-2002, including the Class 5A Division II state title in 1996.
This summer he took over a 5A Bastrop program that had a 3-7 record last year.
Schroeder’s task at 7:30 tonight at Tiger Field is facing a Belton team that snapped an 11-game losing streak with a season-opening 24-23 home win over Boerne last Friday.
“I think they responded well,” Southern said. “We brought them back Saturday, lifted and ran and stressed to them the fact you have to enjoy that one for a couple days, then let it go and move on to the next one. When you haven’t won, then you win the way we won, they need to feel good about that.”
And not only have the Tigers played a game and the Bears haven’t, but Southern had the spring to install his system and Schroeder didn’t meet his players until Aug. 6.
“As a coach having a spring and being able to install everything you wanted to install, you would hope you have an advantage,” Southern said. “And by playing a game, you’d hope you have an advantage because there’s always mistakes made in the first few games.
“I think the difference is they had an opportunity to watch us in a game. You could probably say there’s an advantage for either team, but you would hope, from our perspective, playing a game and having a full spring to get your system implemented, that you would have an advantage.”
One advantage the Tigers won’t have is their starting quarterback, Jacob Phillipe, who injured his ankle celebrating the Tigers’ first touchdown of the season. Southern said he wasn’t sure of the full extent of the injury, other than that Phillipe is “probably done for a while.”
Junior Cole Dominguez, who led the Tigers on a game-winning drive in the final 2 minutes, 32 seconds against Boerne, will make his first start tonight. He threw for 100 yards, including going 4-for-5 for 51 yards on the final drive.
“Cole’s a competitor, and it didn’t surprise me how he responded because competitors will figure out a way to get it done, usually,” Southern said. “He’s got a pretty good understanding about the game, too. When you’re thrust into that role as a backup . . . the good thing was he was already in the game at receiver. It wasn’t like you pulled him off the bench and stuck him in there.”
Bastrop’s quarterback is Matthew Homesley, who’s “really green, but a good kid who shows some potential,” according to Schroeder, who has a career record of 187-23-3.
And while he said he hasn’t gotten a full feel for his team, Schroeder said he expects O.J. Sanchez and Jacob Thomas to be threats out of the backfield, while linebackers Chris Washington and Jordan Wright, free safety Bobby Frey and cornerback Steven Rodriguez to be the top performers on defense.
“I think for us to win we have to execute our new system more than anything else,” he said. “Belton has a couple of running backs who are lightning-fast and we have to control them. They run a spread, no-huddle (formation), and that can cause a lot of excitement and confusion.”
Those two running backs are seniors Keith Daniels and Khiry Robinson, who had a combined 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Also, Robinson made the 18-yard, go-ahead touchdown reception in the final minute and then made an interception near the goal line as time expired.
Southern said Dominguez’s play will be important for the success of the Tigers. Though he doesn’t expect another 8-for-10, 100-yard performance, he does think Dominguez is ready for another solid game.
“The first time he makes a bad read or something, people are going to say things different,” Southern said. “Now you’re in the starting role, and you have to understand it better and know how to lead the team. That’s probably the most critical thing.”
NOTES: Phillipe threw for 74 yards against Boerne before getting injured. . . . Daniels had 65 rushing yards on 10 carries, including a 60-yard TD run. . . . Belton will play its first road game next week against Georgetown. . . . Southern (0-2) and Schroeder (1-4) have a combined 1-6 record in state title games.
ecarifio@temple-telegram.com
