The Cayuga football team is rounding into form, and CHS coach Greg Jenkins said he was more than happy with the way his team has played so far in 2012 — steadily improving each week.
The Wildcats (2-1) will look to continue that improvement Friday, when they welcome in Overton (2-1) to Scarborough Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off.
“I think, even after the loss to Mt. Enterprise, we thought we made some progress — both the kids and coaching staff, especially defensively,” Jenkins said. “We’re very proud of the kids. It was kind of unknown going into the season. (We had) an unproven quarterback, some kids back on the offensive line, unproven receiving corps. The offensive production is a total team effort...it takes all of us.”
While the Cayuga offense is putting up big numbers week-in and week-out, it’s the Cayuga defense that’s currently on the rise.
In the team’s last six quarters of play — the second half against Mount Enterprise and the game against Wortham — the Wildcats have allowed only two touchdowns and 182 yards.
“We’ve made it very simple for them. Just go find the football,” Jenkins said “We sure tackled better last week. Mount’s backs were tough to tackle. I just think the kids just concentrated a lot better on their keys and their reads, and gang-tackled last week.”
Overton brings with them two big running backs, similar to Mount Enterprise. The Mustangs are riding a two-game winning streak, and are averaging 21 points per game.
“We expect them to come downhill, right at us,” Jenkins said. “The key to us is getting lined up to their formations. They’ll try and trick you with their formation.
That size on the offensive side of the ball also translates to the defensive side for Overton as well, and the Mustangs have two big linebackers that lead the team in tackles.
“They’ll also have us outsized, so we’ll have to take advantage of our skill kids on offense,” Jenkins said. “We’ve got to get the first level blocked then get to that second level and get those linebackers blocked.”
Alto at FRANKSTON
The Frankston football team’s gauntlet of a schedule continues Friday, when the Indians welcome in Class 1A’s No. 15-ranked Alto Yellowjackets.
The Yellowjackets are coming off of a 25-13 victory over defending Class 1A state champion Tenaha.
“We play a tough schedule. It’s just going to get us better for district play,” FHS coach Matt Nally said. “We’ve got to figure out some ways, to not slow them down but contain (Alto) somehow. Our kids have to execute the gameplan.
“We will and we’ll be fine, but Alto is Alto and I think it’s one of the best Alto teams that Frankston’s faced.”
By merely looking at the stats and not the final score from the Indians’ 41-6 loss to Mildred last Friday, it wouldn’t look anything like a blowout.
The Indians basically kept pace with the high-powered Eagles offensively, but were doomed by untimely miscues and turnovers.
“I would say the biggest, for me, the biggest disappointment in both the Elkhart game and the Mildred game we had five turnovers. When you turn the ball over you’re not giving yourself a shot,” Nally said. “We’re down 14-6 at halftime with Mildred and, at the time, already had three turnovers and two were in the red zone.”
Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Jeff and Opal Austin Stadium (100 W. Perry St., Frankston, Texas 75763).
OAKWOOD at Trinidad
It’s time to see how well the Oakwood football team can bounce back.
For the first time since October 2010, the Panthers will actually get that chance, since that was the last time the team lost a regular season game.
Coincidentally, Oakwood lost that game to Trinidad, which hosts the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Trojan Field (203 E. Eaton St., Trinidad, Texas 75163).
“That’s one of the challenges I’ve made to them this week,” OHS coach Mike Heckathorn said. “We had some discussion...and we’ll see. We’ll see if (team leaders) take the challenge.
“You lose to a team that’s pretty good — that might not be better than us but played better than us the other night.”
One thing about the matchup is for sure: Points should be plentiful.
Oakwood is averaging almost 63 points per game this season, with only one game — last week’s loss to Milford — going the full four quarters.
Trinidad’s offense has been even more potent. The Trojans are averaging 90 points per game during their 3-0 start.
“We’ve got to tackle and we didn’t do that the other night. We were in a position to make tackles and just didn’t do it,” Heckathorn said. “They’ve got two good running backs and they block pretty well. They take advantage of what the defense is giving them. They’ve got pretty good speed.”
The Panthers may be without three key players, as Robert Burden, Louis Collins and Shaquille Caldwell are all banged up from Friday’s game.
Caldwell won’t play, while both Burden and Collins are questionable.
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Sports editor Justin Rains can be reached via email at jrains@palestineherald.com
Local Sports
H.S. Football Roundup: Cayuga faces another tough test vs. Overton
Frankston hosts Alto, Oakwood travels to Trinidad
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