|
|
|
Raiders ready to take the field |
|
Written by Greg Bird
|
|
Friday, 28 August 2009 |
It could be an exciting year for the McCreary Central Football Team.
It could be an exciting year for the McCreary Central Football Team.
With two of the top players in the District in Aaron Watts and Zack Roark, along with a score of All District players on the roster, the Raiders are ready for a return trip to the playoffs.
McCreary only lost four seniors from last year’s 4-7 team, and they return a host of experienced players ready to keep the resurgence of the Raider football program going strong.
Where the loss seems to hurt the Raiders the most is in the offensive and defensive lines, but a new attitude and a strong off-season workout program has made the returning line men leaner and quicker.
The line, while not as big as in years past, makes up for the difference in quickness. “Strength punishes; Speed Kills,” is the mantra adopted by Coach Jamie Payne to define the new look.
In the Raiders first two scrimmages, the defense certainly seemed to benefit from the extra speed. Holding a powerful Johnson Central offense out of the endzone for much of the first scrimmage and dominating Russell County last Thursday, McCreary’s defense could surprise a lot of opponents.
The offensive line retains the speed, allowing backs to spread out their runs, but they will have their work cut out for them when protecting the quarterback or opening up gaps for draws and inside runs.
The presence of Watts and Roark in the backfield allows the Raiders to have several options on offense that will keep opponents guessing.
Watts will get the bulk of the snaps at quarterback, using his speed and strong arm to keep defenses honest. But Storm Stevens provides an extra option under center, allowing both Watts and Roark to take snaps and run routes.
McCreary has several different formations in the playbook to utilize the various offensive weapons in their arsenal.
Coach Clinton Gay believes that by the end of the season, the Raiders will be at the top of their game and be ready for whatever gets thrown at them in the playoffs.
“We are going to get better every game,” he said. “If we work hard every week and stay healthy, there is no telling how good we can be.”
The two scrimmage games in the pre season gave a glimpse of what could be in store for the Raiders this season.
“I think we got better from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage,” Gay said. “Russell County is ranked higher than us in the polls, and we pretty much did what we wanted to do against them.”
“Now we have to get ready to go in the regular season. If we keep up that pace, we’ll be in fine shape.”
Coach Gay credits a lot to the off-season workouts put in by the players. A strident weight program and plyometric training increased strength, agility and overall fitness and should drastically reduce lost time due to injuries.
“We’re quicker all the way around,” Gay said. “Even our skill people got quicker from last year and that is going to make a big difference.”
“I think it shows. It allows us to be quicker and stay healthy throughout the season.”
The Raiders open up the season Friday night on the road against Pineville. The Mountain Lions defeated McCreary 47-18 last year and Coach Clinton Gay has had the Raiders working hard this week to prevent a repeat.
“They whooped us last year,” he said. “And if we’re not ready, they’ll do it again.”
“We have been focusing on this game for a while and I feel we will perform a lot better.”
The Raiders an interesting schedule, with only four road games on the slate. The “home cooking factor” could play an important role in the Raiders’ chances at a winning season.
Six of McCreary’s opponents finished the 2008 season with a winning record, led by defending 4A state champion Bell County who ended the year with a perfect 15-0 season.
Week 2 brings Edmonson County (8-5) to McCreary, followed by a visit from Wayne County (7-4) then Leslie County (1-10) to wrap up the home stand.
McCreary hits the road for weeks 5 and 6, a District game against Knox Central (9-4) and then to Powell County (6-5). The Raiders return home for a week 7 game against Madison Southern (0-10), then hit the road for the final time against Rockcastle County (8-4).
Two home games wrap up the regular season: a week 9 match up against Bell County and week 10 against Lynn Camp (4-7).
If the Raiders secure just one win against a District 7 opponent (Bell, Knox Central, Rockcastle or Madison Southern), McCreary will make their third consecutive trip to the Class 4A playoffs, where they hope to keep their season alive.
|
|
