The Orangefield Bobcats put an exclamation mark next to their win last week in their final district game. Orangefield defeated Anahuac 42-19 to capture second place in the district.
Coach Josh Smalley evaluated the Bobcats’ performance as very good against Anahuac which came into the game tied with Orangefield with only one district loss. The Panthers scored on their first possession to take the lead, but Clayton Choate returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to tie the game. The Bobcats got a roll from there and dominated the game.
The victory was the fourth straight for Orangefield. The Bobcats won nine games during the regular season for the first time since 1981. Now its time for the post season. Smalley emphasized, “We’re focused on this Thursday and trying to go one and oh. This week it’s win, or go home so we’ve got to play well.”
The first round of the playoffs is this week. The Bobcats’ opening opponent the Franklin Lions run the same Slot-T offense that Orangefield uses so the game could be short in duration according to Smalley. Also like the Bobcats, the Lions use a number of running backs and no one gets the majority of the carries.
The Franklin offense is guided by the quarterback Marcus Wade a sophomore. Wade can run the ball, but does throw it more than his counterpart Gunner Jones does for the Bobcats.
Running backs include Datron Dixon, Bobby Washington, Bryson Washington, Malcolm Murphy, CJ Smith, Mason Banister, and Seth Spiller. All do a good job toting the football.
The offensive line is solid opening holes for the running game. Smalley is especially impressed with senior Cody Duewall who has a nasty, but not dirty, edge to him that makes for an aggressive physical blocker of potential opponent tacklers.
The Orangefield defense will have to keep an eye on all three backs plus Wade whoever is in the lineup behind him. “They’re very efficient running the football, but we do have to be prepared for the pass as well,” Smalley said.
Both defenses will want to stop the other team’s running game. Coach Smalley analyzed the Franklin defense. The Lions run a four-man front primarily and will drop a linebacker over the opposing center to create an odd-man front.
Their inside linebackers CJ Smith and Mason Banister are the heart of the Lions’ defense. Both are seniors so have plenty of varsity experience.
Duewall will slide into the defensive line occasionally at a tackle position. Ashton Ferguson is a defensive end who plays well for Franklin. The running backs also alternate starting in the Lions’ secondary which uses mostly man coverage.
The Lions are aggressive on defense and play very well against the run. Most opponents that have moved the ball on Franklin have done so through the air. Smalley predicted, “Offensively up front we’ve got to be prepared for a long night against these guys, it’s going to be a physical battle.”
This bi-district game pits two evenly matched teams with similar personalities. Orangefield finished second in its district, and Franklin was the third place team in its district. There’s not a whole lot of difference between the two teams with losses only coming against the top seeded teams in their district. East Chambers beat the Bobcats, while Diboll and Crockett defeated the Lions.
Smalley believes it will be a hard fought contest. Turnovers must be avoided in a tight game like this will be. Both defenses will want to stop the run since that is the primary offense used by the two schools.
An important mental part of the game will be controlling how the players allow the elements to affect their efforts. The forecast is for windy cold weather and possibly rain on Thursday night. Smalley is hopeful the Bobcats will be tough enough to overcome that.
The playoffs are the goal every year for every team. The Bobcats were disappointed last year in failing to make the post season. “We’re excited obviously to be back in the playoffs, but we’re not satisfied with just getting in we’d like to make some noise,” Smalley concluded.
The Orangefield Bobcats and the Franklin Lions play Thursday night at 7:00 at Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah. KOGT will carry the game live.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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