LCM Preseason Preview
The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears have made the playoffs the last two seasons under Coach Randy Crouch. As the Bears head into the 2015 season, Coach Crouch wants to emphasize the running game more. Crouch says the Bears will try to run the ball a bit better and see as it goes.
Coach Crouch has a number of Bears back from last year’s squad that should help LC-M make the postseason again. Crouch has his starting center Tyler Doyle returning as are Stuart Viator and Mitchell Lee in the offensive line. In the backfield Sam King played a lot as did Chris Winters. Going into the scrimmages Beau Bickham will be the Bears’ quarterback. Crouch is counting on these returning starters who played a lot of football for LC-M last year to lead the offense.
In preparation for the season opener, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears will scrimmage the Port Neches-Groves Indians and the Orangefield Bobcats. Coach Randy Crouch will be working to implement the change in the Bears’ offense to emphasize the run more. Crouch believes he has a good group of running backs that he wants to get more involved in the offense. There are some holes in the offensive line with the loss of Marvis Brown and Ethan Reed to graduation, but with Doyle, Viator, and Lee to build around Crouch thinks they can carry on.
The importance of the defensive line will occupy Coach Crouch’s attention in the workouts and scrimmages. Crouch says the coaches need to develop some players in the defensive line. Getting some depth in the defensive line is one of the main goals for Crouch and his staff during the summer and in the scrimmages. At linebacker LC-M has Alex Reed and Bay Quebodeaux, while Drake Trawhon at safety have all seen good playing time.
To make the playoffs this year is going to be a tough task as always, and Coach Crouch says the Bears’ district has gotten even tougher. Crouch looks at Silsbee being a young team last year and should be better with age, Bridge City has a new coach in Dwayne DuBois whose winning record speaks for itself, Cleveland and Splendora should both be improved, and then there is Huffman and Jasper who battled for the district title last year with the Bears. It’s going to be much tougher from top to bottom in the district according to Crouch.
A third straight appearance in the state playoffs is the goal for the LC-M Bears and Coach Crouch. It will not be easy as Crouch compares the Bears’ district opponents to those in their previous district where any team could beat any opponent every Friday night. Crouch predicts the key will be taking care of business each week and especially the Bears winning their home games while facing the challenge of fighting for a spot in the postseason every week.
The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears open the season with their cross-town rivals the West Orange-Stark Mustangs at Dan R. Hooks Stadium on August 28.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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