The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears won a huge game, 39-31, last Friday night defeating the district favorite Huffman. The Falcons were undefeated before the Bears went into Huffman to hand them their first loss of the season.
Coach Eric Peevey credited his Bears for their effort and the LC-M coaches for having a great game plan to top Huffman. The Bears came out early to take a twelve point lead, fell behind 21-12, before Peevey and his staff got through to the players at halftime they needed to match the intensity of the Falcons along with adjustments for the second half.
The third quarter was the turning point according to Peevey as LC-M played exceptionally well and took the fight out of Huffman. Peevey recalled, “It allowed us to get a good lead and we were able to finish the game off.”
For the second week in a row the Bears will play a district opponent who is undefeated on the season. Peevey analyzed that the Vidor Pirates’ Slot-T offense helps promote a motivation for them that team success will lead to individual success.
Under Coach Jeff Mathews the Pirates rotate the carries between multiple backs so that they all produce good yardage for Vidor and they are all pulling for each other. Peevey pointed out one game may feature the tailback or the fullback while the next game it’s the halfback and another game it’s the quarterback who gets the most carries.
Defending against the Slot-T requires discipline and following assignments for each defensive player. “I think Coach Davis, our defensive coordinator, has done a really good job with the Slot-T in the past and also this year when we scrimmaged Orangefield, I think he’ll have a good game plan for it this week,” Peevey stated.
Most of the talk is how to stop the Vidor offense, but Coach Peevey recognized the Pirates are tough on defense as well which starts with their noseguard Jordan Smith. He is a grown man in Peevey’s own words and causes a lot of problems up front in the middle of the front line.
The Pirates operate out of the 3-4 system on defense. The linebackers Connor McKay and Jerrod Odom get after ball carriers and are fast.
A key for the Vidor defense according to Peevey is the Pirates do what a lot of other teams do not and that is pursue ball carriers to the other side of the field. Ball carriers cannot run away from the Pirate defenders because they will chase them down and try to strip the ball out to get their offense back on the field.
Vidor plays defense with a passion and so it’s going to be a tough defense to go against. Peevey replied, “I think we’ll be prepared.”
The winner of this game will have a share of first place in the district. The keys for Little Cypress-Mauriceville is to continue to play level headed, keep the penalties down, keep the turnovers down, and at the same point the Bears offense needs to keep the chains moving to keep the Pirates’ offense off the field as much as possible.
On the flip side Coach Peevey thinks Vidor’s goal is to get at least three yards on every play, and he believes the Pirates will go for it on fourth downs most of the night instead of punting. The LC-M coach anticipates pooch kicks by the Pirates instead of kicking the ball deep to the speedy return men for the Bears.
Peevey is excited about the Orange County showdown at Battlin’ Bear Stadium on Friday night. “We’ve got to make stops, we’ve got to keep pressing, doing what we do, and put the pressure on them to keep scoring. It’s going to be a great atmosphere, it’s going to be a great game, I know both teams are going to be ready to go, so it’s going to be an awesome time,” Peevey concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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2021 Schedule
Aug. 27 – at H-Fannett 26-6
Sept. 3 – at WOS 20-39
Sept. 9 – at Katy Jordan 32-6
Sept. 17 – Woodville (canceled)
Sept. 24 – Houston Kinkaid 49-20
Oct. 1 – Jasper 13-0
Oct. 8 – at Huffman 39-31
Oct. 15 – Vidor
Oct. 22 – at Lumberton
Oct. 29 – Livingston
Nov. 5 – at Splendora
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