Last Friday was a bad night for the Orangefield Bobcats. Coach Josh Smalley evaluated the Bobcats performance against East Chambers in a 41-0 loss. He stated they did not play very well or coach very well. Smalley was not excited about the effort put forth by the team in the game.
The coach did not want to take anything away from the Buccaneers who he added are a really good football team and well coached. Smalley remarked, “The best part about last Friday was the Chick-fil-A after the game.” Borrowing a line from Coach Cornel Thompson, Smalley said the only thing injured for the Bobcats in the game was their pride.
Orangefield returns home this Friday and has another tough district opponent in the Hardin Hornets. Smalley looked at the Hornets’ high scoring offense. They have the leading passer and the leading rusher in the district. Hardin will line up in the Wishbone and run the ball, or then line up in the Shotgun and throw the ball. Averaging over 470 yards a game the Hornets have the best offense in District 12-3A, Division I.
A question mark for Coach Smalley and his coaches is who to prepare the Bobcats to face at quarterback for Hardin. Marc Chavira has missed the last two games, but has thrown for 862 yards with nine touchdowns. Smalley indicated Orangefield will expect Chavira to return at quarterback.
Chavira is only half of the dynamic duo for Hardin. Darius White has already topped a thousand yards rushing with 1,304 in six games. White is averaging over 12 yards a carry with 15 rushing touchdowns. He has two receptions and one return for scores for a total of eighteen. “We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us preparing for that offense,” Smalley admitted.
Hardin is known for its offense, but Coach Smalley is not taking anything for granted playing the Hornets’ defense. They use multiple fronts. The Hornets will line up in an odd front with a noseguard, and then they will go to an even front with two-techniques and a 31-look. Hardin likes to get in the backfield and make a lot of penetration.
Sophomore Paul Thonsgaard at noseguard looks like a tree trunk and is as difficult to move as one. He is big and strong enough to bench press the opposing center into the backfield. Linebackers Dylan Morgan and Trent Dickey are good players for the Hornets and run to the ball very well. Smalley analyzed, “They’re athletic, well coached, with a lot of good ability.”
Friday night is Homecoming for Orangefield and the game will be carried live on KOGT. The contest is drawing a lot of attention. Hardin is 2-1 and Orangefield is 1-2 in district. Both teams have lost to East Chambers and beaten Kirbyville. The difference is the Bobcats fell at Buna while the Hornets walked all over Warren. This game could be the one that determines which of the two teams goes to the playoffs.
Smalley knows how important this game is for the Bobcats. “A lot on the line, we can’t afford too many more losses in district and still have hopes of making the playoffs. So, we’ve stressed the importance of that and stressed the importance of focusing to the players, and luckily the kids have shown up this week with a lot more energy,” Smalley advised.
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