The Orangefield Bobcats put a whooping on the KIPP Jaguars to open the season by a score of 61-0. With that impressive of a point spread there is good news for the Bobcat faithful. Orangefield came out of the game healthy and should get Jacob Harvey back this week who sat out the first game because of a concussion he suffered in the scrimmage with Lumberton.
Coach Josh Smalley said there is also room for improvement as well if Orangefield is to reach its goals this season. The Bobcats did not look good on special teams. Smalley stated, “Special teams is a major concern for me right now.”
This week Orangefield is preparing for the (0-1) Livingston Lions who are two classifications larger than the Bobcats. The Lions lost to Shepherd 68-7 last week. Smalley analyzed the Lions which operate out of the Shotgun with two backs on offense. Their best plays are getting the ball to the wide receivers or giving it to the running back.
The two talented pass catchers are Jaylen Harrell and Chris Washington. Both are dangerous. The Lions leading ball carrier is Joe Lewis. Quarterback Jared Seagroves manages the game well for Livingston. Coach Smalley points out handing off to the running back and throwing the slant or the fade are their best options right now on offense.
On defense Livingston applies pressure with its linebackers, ends, and corners representing the biggest concern for Coach Smalley. The Lions base out of a 4-2-5 or even man-front similar to KIPP from Week 1. They play mostly man in the secondary.
Inside linebackers Jonathan Hammond and Jared Seagroves bring pressure up the middle. The defensive ends like to come up field a lot. Tyler Franklin and Shane Marlow at the cornerbacks are very aggressive, will play up tight, and will come get you if they read run. Smalley points out, “Our linemen have to have their eyes up, so we have to prepare for some pressure.”
The saying is a team needs to win two of the three phases of the game to get a victory in football. The Bobcats won the offensive and defensive phases last week. Smalley wants Orangefield to also win the kicking phase of the game this week.
The Bobcats were slow on snaps and the timing was not good on extra points and field goals. They only attempted one punt, the snap was good, but the punter dropped the ball and had to run it.
Livingston is a threat on kick returns. The Lions nearly ran a couple of kicks back last week against Shepherd. Orangefield will focus on maintaining lines and targets to not let the Lions hit a crease and break a long return. “We have a long ways to go and a lot of improvement we have to make if we’re going to reach our goals this year,” Smalley concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
Social Media