This is Week 11 of the high school football season and for Orangefield the last one of the year. Coach Josh Smalley should be getting some Bobcats back for the final game. Colby Gonzales sat out last week with a concussion should be available on Friday. Fullback Quy Tsan tried to give it a go against Warren with an ankle injury, but will be available for this game. Smalley added, “We should be relatively healthy going into the last game.”
Orangefield will be on the road at Anahuac. Smalley analyzed the Panthers’ offense. They are a run heavy team out of a lot of different formations. Anahuac will run toss, isolations, inside Veer, the option, and then will get in the Spread to throw the ball a little bit. Bobcat coaches are emphasizing responsibilities on defense to stop the three options of the dive, the pitch, and the quarterback keeping that the Panthers do very well. “We better have our responsibilities down or they can go any time,” Smalley warned.
The leading rusher for Anahuac is Corenthos Hill with 700 yards and seven touchdowns. He is averaging an impressive district leading 13.21 yards a carry. Tyrone Wilson has gained 380 yards with six rushing touchdowns. At quarterback is Ski Wilpitz who will run when the first two options are not available to the Panthers’ running game.
The Panthers are not to be underrated on defense. Coach Smalley reminded that Anahuac is very good at stopping opponents with its defense. They deploy in a four-man front normally, however, Smalley anticipates seeing eight men in the box from Anahuac against the Bobcats.
The main guy on defense for the Panthers is Alex Smith who weighs about 300 pounds at defensive tackle, but will on occasion lineup at defensive end on the strong side of the opponent’s offensive line. Linebackers Teriyan Nyaribo and Cade Dye play downhill close to the line of scrimmage and react quickly to filling holes on running plays. Smalley observed, “They’re athletic in the secondary on the back end, and then they’re big and strong and physical up front.”
Quoting former NFL coach Herm Edwards, you play to win the game, is the goal this week according to Coach Smalley. The final game of the season carries with it some sadness over missed expectations for the coaches and players. The chance at the playoffs has passed by the Bobcats who still want to finish the season with a winning record which is possible with a victory against Anahuac.
Smalley reflected on the last game of the year and for the Orangefield seniors who are playing their last high school football game. The seniors have responded with a great week of practice. “It’s going to be a physical ball game. I just want to see our kids compete, I want to see our kids go out victorious in the last game of the season, and hopefully send our seniors out the right way,” Smalley concluded.
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