Last week the Orangefield Bobcats got one starter back from injury, but lost another one in the game with West Orange-Stark. Cale Puckett was back from his ankle sprain, but Chase Furlough is out with a broken wrist. He will be replaced by Zach Dischler on the Bobcats’ defense.
Friday night Orangefield plays the Liberty Panthers, and Coach Josh Smalley says Liberty has shown a number of different looks on offense this season. Smalley indentifies quarterback Tino Briggs with 500 passing yards and 300 rushing yards as leading the Panther offense. Their top rusher is Alex Brown with 500 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. The Panthers do a little bit of everything according to Smalley, they spread you out and also get into a double tight end formation to try to run the football at you with a power game. The coach adds that he and the coaches have prepared the Bobcats this week for a lot of different offenses.
Defensively the Panthers have likewise switched back and forth with formations. Smalley points out that Liberty is ranked second statistically in the district allowing only 236 yards a game on defense. Film has shown Smalley several defensive looks from Liberty. Against Bridge City which runs the same offense as Orangefield the Panthers gave a 3-Stack look and also an even front 31 look. In their game with West Orange-Stark they showed both formations as well. Last year Liberty played against the Bobcats using a 7-Diamond. Fortunately this late in the season Smalley indicates the Panthers will not be showing Orangefield any looks it has not seen already. He adds the Bobcats will not be confused and just need reps to learn their assignments.
The contest is not a must win for the Bobcats, but Coach Smalley looks at the significance of the game with Liberty. Smalley admits it is a key game which if Orangefield wins will earn a playoff spot and could play for second place in the district in two weeks against Hamshire-Fannett. It is also Senior Night for the Bobcats. Keys as always are avoiding turnovers and blocking well on offense, while on defense the Bobcats need to line up correctly and run to the football. Coach Smalley believes Orangefield matches up well with Liberty which has a little more speed in the backfield, but the Bobcats make up for that with their aggressiveness in getting to the ball and learning what they’re supposed to do on defense.
Friday night at F. L. McClain Stadium the Orangefield Bobcats will try to clinch a playoff spot against the Liberty Panthers.
Social Media