Pair of potent offenses square off Friday

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor

BETHEL — Cayuga head coach Tommy Allison and his Wildcat squad know a little something about football and turkey.

For the third straight year, Cayuga plays the week of Thanksgiving — this time facing undefeated Lovelady in the Class A-Region III, Division II quarterfinals. The game is at 7:30 p.m. in Whitehouse.

“This has always been one of our goals, to practice on Thanksgiving,” Allison said. “It says a lot about the kids and I am real proud of them.”

Friday’s game is a battle of not just two of the top teams in the region, but two of the top teams in the state. Both teams have a combined one loss — which Cayuga had in its first game of the season. After the loss, Cayuga (10-1) has a 10-game winning streak. The Lions are perfect on the season at 12-0.

“There is no question, it is going to be a battle,” Allison said. “There will be two quality football teams and it is going to come down to who makes the fewest mistakes.”

The game features two potent offenses that have both scored more than 40 points a game.

Lovelady has scored 44.7 points a game, being held to under 40 points only twice this season.

Lovelady flexed its offensive muscle a few weeks ago when the Lions rushed for 648 yards in a 52-21 bi-district win over Italy.

“Lovelady is a very complete team,” Allison said. “They have good size on the line, a quarterback who is a tremendous player and speed at the skill positions.”

Lion quarterback Jordy Denson is in his third year at the helm of the Lovelady offense. He is the team’s leading rusher with 738 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also has thrown for 935 yards and 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

“Their quarterback is a hard runner who also throws the ball well,” Allison said. “He is a threat when both running and throwing the football.”

Along with Denson, Lovelady had three backs with over 600 yards rushing. Christian Harris has rushed for 668 yards and Tre Sherman has rushed for 650 yards — averaging 10 yards a carry.

Sherman also leads the team in receiving with 20 catches for 556 yards and seven touchdowns.

“What makes them so tough is that they can go from a power game to spreading the field,” Allison said. “We have to play good, responsible football. If anyone busts on their assignment, it can cost us a touchdown.”

The Wildcat defense has played well during the playoffs. The Cayuga first unit has only given up two touchdowns in the first two games. The defense also has forced 10 turnovers in the last two games.

“Defensively, we are playing really well right now,” Allison said. “For the most part, they are doing what they need to do in getting the ball back to our offense.”

Cayuga will counter Lovelady’s offensive firepower with its own. The Wildcat offense has scored over 45 points a game and is averaging 476 yards a game — nearly 80 more yards a game than this same point last season.

Cayuga has shown its can move the ball many different ways. The Wildcats have rushed for 3,755 yards with a pair of 1,000 yard rushers — Traylon Shead (1,879 yards, 28 touchdowns) and Malcome Kennedy (1,474 yards, 16 touchdowns).

Cayuga also is closing in on last year’s passing totals as Kennedy has thrown for 1,317 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The Wildcats also make it tough on defenses with different formations to get their athletes the ball. Against Bowie last week, Cayuga showcased more than its basic spread formation.

At times, Cayuga had Shead take the direct handoff, including a 10-yard touchdown run for Shead in the first quarter. Then there was the formation in which Cayuga had four bunched in a diamond on one side, Kennedy lined up by himself on the other side and Billy Duncan taking the snap. Cayuga ran that formation three times including a 31-yard pass from Duncan to Shead.

“We want to put pressure on the defense and force them to make a decision on how they want to cover us,” Allison said. “It lets us use all our offensive weapons and forces the defense to prepare for different looks.”

Notes: Cayuga and Lovelady meet in the playoffs in 2007. In the area playoff game, Cayuga rallied from a 22-13 halftime deficit to win 33-22. Shead had 325 yards and four touchdowns in the win. ...The two teams have one common opponent this season — Grapeland. Cayuga defeated Grapeland 34-28 in the district finale. Lovelady defeated the Sandies 42-20 in non-district play.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com