By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com
(October 18, 2017) — De Leon is blessed to have a versatile, balanced offense that has scored with great efficiency, adding points to the board on a high percentage of possessions.
That’s a good thing, obviously, but especially so, says De Leon head coach David Yeager, now that opponents have established a trend each week of playing defense with their own offense.
Coach Yeager expects more of the same when the No. 8 Bearcats (6-0, 2-0) travel Friday to Kooken Field in Hamilton (3-3, 0-3) to take on a Bulldog team he says is dangerous regardless of record. Opening kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
“I think they will try to do what Crawford tried to do and what Hico was really successful in doing for a lot of the game – keep it not the ground and chew up clock to keep our offense off the field,” he said. “Hamilton has a big offensive line, and I think they will try to line up and smash us for thee or four yards at a time.”
The best way to prevent that? Win on first down, says Yeager. Or at least on second down.
“We’ve got to win first and second down so it’s not third and one, third and two all the time. Then on third down, we have to get off the field,” he explained. “If we can do that without them getting three, four first downs each possession, then we can get the number of looks we want for our offense. But we can’t score if we don’t have the ball.”
Which means the offense, in turn, has to take advantage of the opportunities that do become available.
“It really makes your offensive possessions more valuable. We have to be efficient and effective when we have the ball and go get points, because we may not see it again for eight or nine minutes,” he said.
The Bulldogs pass the eye test, Yeager says , and it’s been that way each season since he took over at De Leon.
“They dress out really well and have as much talent as anyone in the district, it’s just taken coach (Mike) Reed a while to get it turned around there. He will though, I believe that. I just hope we aren’t on the other side the week those guys finally put it all together.”
So far, it’s been De Leon that’s had it all together and Crawford, Hico and four unfortunate opponents before district play have had their turn being the that team caught on the other side. The Bearcats were good last year when the bulk of its top players were sophomores. Now, it’s an experienced group doing damage in various ways.
“That’s what makes us really tough to defend, I think, is having so many kids who can make big plays, and have the experience understand the big picture of where we’re trying to go and what they can do in that moment to play a part in getting us there.”
The Bearcats shifted the power in District 10-2A Division I with a 38-18 victory over Crawford, outscoring the Pirates 35-6 after trailing 12-3 early. Then they kept that power with a 13-0 fourth-quarter surge lifting them past Hico, 27-14.
De Leon lost to those perennial powers a year ago. Imagine how much better the Bearcats must have felt entering their bye week having triumphed over each to remain unbeaten this time around.
“Love the bye, we have never lost during the bye week,” Coach Yeager quipped. “Seriously, though, it was good for us. We’ve had a couple big games at the end of a stretch where we’ve been going at it all week for pretty much eight straight weeks when you count two scrimmages at the start of the season. Last week gave our kids and our staff a chance to step back and catch their breath for a bit, and also to help us get ready and refocused for what we’re hoping is a long haul.”
A haul beginning against a Hamilton team that was 3-0 before beginning district with about as tough a four week stretch as imaginable in 2A Division I – Goldthwaite then Crawford, followed by Hico and now De Leon.
“I look at them and I see as much talent as I see on any team in our district, and that’s saying something, because this is a very good district,” Yeager said. “I know our coaches understand and I hope our kids understand, that this is a dangerous football team. Being 0-3 in this district does not make you a bad football team, but it does mean you have your backs against the wall and you have to come out fighting. That’s what I expect from them on Friday, and I expect our kids to answer that challenge and be ready to go.”
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