The season began with the veil of the COVID-19 pandemic overshadowing it. The first game was scheduled to start two weeks ago, but Hurricane Laura has pushed the season opener to this Friday night for the Orangefield Bobcats.
Coach Josh Smalley concedes that dealing with the Coronavirus and then a hurricane it has been a strange start for the Bobcats this year. Despite the difficulty involved with starting and stopping and starting again the players have been resilient as have the coaches.
Orangefield fortunately did not suffer the damage to its campus like some of the other schools in Orange County. A few players and coaches did have some damage to their homes, but Laura was no Harvey for the Orangefield community according to Smalley.
The Bobcats have had about a half dozen practices in preparation for the opening game during which most of the varsity players did participate. Smalley said, “It’s been difficult, it’s been a little tough, but we found a way to get it done, so it’s been good so far.”
The opener for Orangefield will be on the road at Livingston. Smalley pointed out the Lions have some talent on offense especially at the skilled positions.
They run the Spread on offense employing 3 by 1 or sometimes no backs behind the quarterback. The Lions like to spread opposing defenses and are very athletic out wide and at quarterback.
The quarterback is junior Damian Ruiz who is a returning starter for the Lions. Smalley compares Ruiz to another pretty good quarterback in Kendrick King from Hamshire-Fannett. Ruiz can make things go running the football or throwing it to the tall and talented receivers Livingston has.
Joining Ruiz in the backfield at halfback is Lynn Johnson who has big play capability. In the Lions’ game with Needville, Johnson broke an 86-yard touchdown run.
Livingston is dangerous on offense either throwing or running the ball. “We definitely have our work cut out for us as far as keeping them contained, staying in our lanes, and making tackles. They put a lot of pressure on us with their athleticism to try to stop that offense,” Smalley reported.
Defensively, Livingston has employed some different formations which Coach Smalley analyzed. The Lions will run both an odd and even front on defense.
In last year’s game between the two teams, Livingston ran a 4-2-5 or an even front against the Bobcats. Smalley saw on video tape the Lions using a 50 or a 3-4 much like the West Orange-Stark Mustangs run with a noseguard.
Where the Lions are good on defense is on the outside at defensive end. Two seniors Ladanian Walker and Nigel Henderson at the end positions cause havoc inside against opposing offenses.
Another leader on defense for Livingston is the middle linebacker Landon Leggett. Though just a sophomore Leggett likes to run downhill and make plays for the Lions.
The secondary is made-up of the same athletic players who play wide receiver and running back on the offense. The Lions will use man coverage outside to allow them to stack more defenders in the box to stop the run which is Orangefield’s specialty.
Livingston is aggressive on defense shooting gaps and blitzing the linebackers a lot. Smalley reminded, “Offensively, we’re going to have to be smart and methodical and patient on some things and remember three or four yards is a good play for us.”
While this is the first game for the Bobcats, the Lions have already played two. Livingston lost a tough game to Needville in the final seconds and the other game to Palestine.
The number one goal for the Bobcats is to win the game, but it is the first game of the season which carries with it butterflies and other uncertainties to kickoff the year. Penalties, turnovers, special teams, and conditioning will be factors as they always are early in the season.
Coach Smalley evaluated the other keys in this game to earn a victory for Orangefield. “There’s physicality, there’s effort, there’s heart, there’s mental toughness, physical toughness involved in a football game, and that’s where we’ve got to be on top of our game to come out on top Friday,” Smalley concluded.
Tickets for the game this Friday at Livingston will be sold only in the athletic office in the field house. Tickets will not be sold at the gate for this game. Adults $6.00 Students $4.00
Ticket sales times:
Tuesday 9/8 thru Thursday 9/11
8am-12pm – 1pm-3pm
Friday
8am-12pm only
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