But Academy coach Royce McAdams and Granger first-year boss Allen Dews have a pretty good idea about how to slow each other down when the Class A Lions (1-0) and the 2A Bumblebees (1-0) meet at 7:30 tonight at John Glover Stadium.
Stopping the run is the key to containing both offenses. Though Academy and Granger put up balanced numbers in season-opening wins, they’re both primarily run-first offenses.
The Bees had success on the ground, but their newfound aerial attack was the biggest key to their win over one of Copperas Cove’s junior varsity teams last Saturday night.
Quarterback Chase Gommert completed 12 of 17 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He completed at least two passes to four receivers, a position the Bees consider one of their biggest strengths.
However, making Academy pass is exactly what Granger - a Class A Division I state semifinalist last season - wants to do.
“Hopefully we’ll be as good against the run as we’ve been in the past,” Dews said. “If we can force them to pass, we have to rise up the challenge of stopping them.”
The Lions are similar on offense. They prefer to run the ball but will throw in the right situation. In a 40-27 home win over Johnson City LBJ last week, Granger scored three of its six touchdowns on passing plays of 27 yards or longer.
The Lions are dangerous on the ground. Running backs Bradley Sims and Matthew Castillo and quarterback Kenny Sifuentes can make big plays happen in an instant.
That’s exactly what Academy can’t have happen.
“Offensively, we have to stop the power game first,” McAdams said. “We have to stop the veer.”
Sims and Castillo rushed for a combined 167 yards, and Sifuentes scored two rushing touchdowns. To duplicate that, Dews said the Lions’ offensive line has to put together four solid quarters.
“Our offensive line played better in the fourth quarter,” he said. “We’ve got to give (Sims and Sifuentes) a chance to get into the secondary.”
Moody, Rosebud-Lott meet
in battle of unbeatens
TRAVIS - Moody and Rosebud-Lott are coming off of two of their schools’ biggest wins in recent years.
Rosebud-Lott pulled off the area’s biggest upset of Zero Week, knocking off District 16-2A favorite McGregor 27-0, with the Cougars allowing only 59 total yards on the road.
Meanwhile, Moody’s 19-15 comeback win over Thrall at home was just as big for its program because it was only the Bearcats’ second win in three seasons.
Rosebud-Lott (1-0) hosts Moody (1-0) at 7:30 tonight at Cougar Field.
“It was important for us to get off to a good foot,” Moody second-year coach Sam Gillispie said. “It’s been a while here since they got off to a good foot.”
While Rosebud-Lott coach Kyle Maxfield was encouraged, he wasn’t about to let his team get too excited.
“We’ve just got to keep both feet on the ground,” he said. “It’s early in the season and we have to make improvements every day.”
The Cougars pulled off their big win thanks to their strong defensive effort, including three turnovers forced.
That defense will have to hold down a young Moody offense that’s coming together. Sophomore quarterback Nate Wilburn led the Bearcats on their game-winning drive last week, throwing a touchdown pass to Ricky Siler with 17 seconds left.
“I’m impressed, but at the same time it doesn’t surprise me,” Gillispie said of the Bearcats’ winning drive. “(Wilburn) did a good job; he didn’t get flustered. He showed a lot of poise.”
Once again, a key for Moody will be its ability to run the ball and control the clock in its Wing-T offense. The Bearcats rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown against Thrall.
Just as important, Gillispie said, Moody can’t afford to give up the big play.
Rosebud-Lott didn’t have a score longer than 22 yards, but big play potential was there.
First-year starting quarterback Ernesto Flores was impressive in his debut. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards with three touchdowns.
“He’s worked hard and for his first varsity start and he was very composed,” Maxfield said. “There’s still a lot of improvement to be made.”
