In fact, it’s probably the exact opposite.
The Tigers’ run defense has struggled, giving up 1,057 yards the past two games. But the Eagles have not had much success rushing the ball, as primary back Michael Holloway had just 10 carries for 1 yard in a 28-21 loss last week to College Station A&M Consolidated during a game in which the Eagles squandered a 21-0 lead.
Belton lost 56-0 to archrival Temple last week, giving up 537 rushing yards a week after allowing 520 to Killeen Shoemaker in a 47-45 win two weeks ago. In that two game span, the Tigers (3-4, 1-2 in 13-5A) allowed five backs to reach the 100-yard mark and two to reach 200.
First-year coach Rodney Southern said there are a couple reasons for his team’s recent defensive lapses.
“Last week, it was a situation where for a quarter and 4 minutes of the second quarter, we played really well,” said Southern of his Tigers, who didn’t allow Temple to score until the 8:21 mark of the second quarter. “Then we had a couple breakdowns and then it kind of just snowballed on us. We’ve all been a part of a game like that before where you just can’t seem to catch up. Then on top of it, you can’t seem to create anything on the other side of the ball.
“(Against Shoemaker) we ran across a group of very talented kids. The quarterback (Andre Smith) and running back (Dion Demers) are as good as there is in the district. So I think it’s a combination of those two things. Plus we generated points against Shoem-aker and didn’t generate points against Temple.”
Ivan Delgado anchors an explosive passing game for Ellison (2-4, 0-2). He threw for 187 yards, two touchdowns - both to Jaron Turner - and an interception against Consolidated. Ellison averages 192.7 passing yards per game but just 139.5 on the ground. The Belton secondary hasn’t faced many passing teams, but both Rajon Gill and Luke Wardell have two-interception games.
Even with Ellison’s proficiency through the air, Southern knows what he would do if he were coaching the Eagles.
“Coming in against us, if I’m them, I run the football,” Southern said. “We’ve been vulnerable the last couple weeks against the run. In this game, you can’t put everybody in the box and say you’re going to stop the run because this quarterback is athletic enough and their receivers are athletic enough that they can hurt you throwing the ball.”
Ellison coach Brett Boyd, however, said he’ll take what the Tigers give him.
“We have to control the ball and keep their offense off the field,” Boyd said. “We’ll take whatever they want to give us. They’re a little different from other defenses we’ve seen this year. They’ve got a man they shift around into different positions. We’ll run when they dictate it and we’ll pass when we’re given the chance.”
Boyd said the key to getting into the district win column is controlling Belton backs Khiry Robinson and Keith Daniels - something Temple did well last week, holding the duo to 174 yards in the shutout.
“You don’t use the word ‘stop’ with those two,” Boyd said. “You just try to control them and hope they don’t have record, career nights. There are some other things they do, but those two really stand out.”
Likewise, Southern said getting the two backs closer to their season averages - Daniels has rushed for 884 yards and nine touchdowns, Robinson for 662 and two scores - will be important for the Tigers’ success. If the Belton offense is on the field, Delgado and the Eagles are on the sidelines.
“The thing we said we needed to do the other night was generate drives and get first downs, and we didn’t do that,” Southern said. “As a result, a long with some other things, it hurt us. We have to keep their quarterback on the sideline. The best way to do that is move the football offensively.”
Both teams come into the 7:30 p.m. game in dire need of a win. The Tigers enter reeling after being crushed by Temple, while the Eagles had a closer but also frustrating loss to Consolidated after leading by three touchdowns.
“They ran across A&M last week and I think A&M played a lot better football game than they had played to this point,” Southern said. “And we didn’t play nearly as well as we’re capable of playing, and Temple played really well.”
Even in an 0-2 district hole, Boyd said his team is not down after squandering its lead against a Consolidated team that averaged just 21.7 points per game going into last week.
“We have every reason to be positive,” Boyd said. “The kids realize that the season is not over yet. Our backs are kind of against the wall, but kids tend to get over it faster than coaches do.”
