Making the playoffs two seasons in a row has the Orangefield Bobcats feeling pretty good. Coach Josh Smalley believes the recent successes can be built on by this year’s Bobcats. Coach Smalley will use some pretty good building blocks of Bobcats back to construct another winning team. Smalley says Matthew Watkins at quarterback, all district center Brandon Bray, Jake Bradley in the offensive line, Austin Moore in the backfield and at middle linebacker, Chase Furlough in the defensive secondary, Wesley Frillou at a cornerback, linebackers Andrew Hoyland and Matthew Brown all return for Orangefield and some young Bobcats are competing for positions that need to be filled.
Orangefield has depth in the backfield this year to help Smalley’s run-oriented offense move the football. Smalley points out the Bobcats have three or four deep at each backfield position. Blayze Holley has transferred in to Orangefield and will see playing time for the Bobcats. Only two starters return in the offensive line, but there is some size with three guys around 300 pounds that have played on the junior varsity hoping to make the starting lineup on the varsity this season. Cale Puckett played some tight end last year and should see much more playing time this season. Depth in the backfield and size in the offensive line would really be the Bobcats’ strength on offensive.
On defense Coach Smalley looks to his returning starters from last season to help stabilize the Bobcats’ 4-3. Smalley states the strength of the defense starts with Moore who will be playing his third year at middle linebacker. Bray is an all district defensive tackle. Both cornerbacks Frillou and Watkins are back for the Bobcats to join Furlough at safety to give Orangefield some strong guys in the secondary to help stop opponents.
Coaches and players have four weeks to get ready for the start of the football season. Coach Josh Smalley and the Orangefield Bobcats are making the most of that time to be prepared for their season opener with the Buna Cougars. Coach Smalley and his staff are working to determine a starter at quarterback and get some experience for the offensive line. Smalley has Watkins with some experience at quarterback which is the hub of the Bobcats running game. Christian Louvier is a sophomore who hopes to see more playing time on the varsity level. Size and speed is available in the offensive line, but Smalley says they’ve got to work on getting some experience for their younger linemen.
Smalley has a trio of holes he wants to fill during workouts and the two preseason scrimmages against Vidor and LC-M. Smalley is looking for two defensive ends and a tackle to fill in next to Bray. The Coach says the Bobcats should be set at linebackers and in the secondary, but those 3 holes in the defensive line are the concern leading up to the start of the season.
Can the Bobcats make it a three-peat and return to the playoffs again this season? Coach Smalley believes their district is very good, but then so is Orangefield. Smalley thinks if the Bobcats stay health, they coach hard, and the kids play hard they have a shot at competing for a district title. He adds making the playoffs is one goal, but so is to make as long a run as possible in the postseason.
The season starts August 28 in Orangefield as the Bobcats play the Buna Cougars.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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