The Orangefield Bobcats have come out of the scrimmages and workouts healthy, confident, but still very youthful in both the offensive and defensive lines. Coach Josh Smalley and the Bobcats face the Buna Cougars in the first game.
Buna runs the same offense as Orangefield, and the same as the Bobcats’ two opponents Vidor and LC-M ran in the scrimmages according to Coach Smalley. The Slot-T has become the popular offense locally. Smalley says the Cougars’ quarterback is very dangerous and will need to be contained by the Orangefield defense. Trick plays and reverse screens are a specialty for Buna so the Bobcat coaches will also be getting the players ready to prepare for that as well.
Smalley says the Cougars like to hit on defense and are led by Matthew Martin at middle linebacker. Smalley indicates Buna lines up in an even front or a 31 look. Martin is the man the Bobcats will need to block on every play. Coach Smalley’s scouts tell him the Cougars have been pretty vanilla on defense in their scrimmages. Smalley states it is the coaches’ job to get the players ready for what they may see in the game as well as what Buna has shown in the scrimmages.
The Bobcats and Cougars are long time rivals. Coach Smalley thinks the first game of the season will be a good test for Orangefield. Smalley admits it’s early so he expects mistakes in the first game of the season, but the Bobcats have to cut down on little things like jumping offside penalties. As always coaches talk about turnovers, and Smalley realizes early in the year turnovers can be a problem, but it is hard to win a game when you turn over the football. What Coach Smalley will be looking for Friday night are cutting down on the mental mistakes and see effort from the players to get after it in front of the home crowd, which he expects they will. Smalley predicts those that come to Orangefield on Friday night will see a good game.
Orangefield and Buna play at the Bobcats’ F. L. McClain Stadium Friday night.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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