Fighting for playoffs spot
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Right now, the Red Level Tigers’ focus is to make the playoffs heading into Friday night’s region contest against Highland Home, head coach Tony Ingram said Monday.
In order to make the playoffs, Ingram said his team must win two out of the next three region games remaining. Red Level faces Zion Chapel Oct. 15, and Elba Oct. 22. The Tigers last regular season game is on the road at Florala.
“To us, it would be nice to play at home, but we just want to get in (to the playoffs),” Ingram said.
Last week, the Tigers came back from a 13-0 deficit to beat Samson 28-25 behind the passing of quarterback Preston Ryce, who had three touchdown passes.
Ingram said one of the keys to last week’s win was putting Ryce “under center.”
“We were struggling on offense, and it took us a while to adjust to that option they run,” he said. “The kids didn’t panic and to their credit, we settled down, and we put Stoney (Ryce) under center and went at them and the kids just responded.
“We eventually shut their option down, and figured it out, and we just give the kids credit, they never quit,” he said. “If they do that, then they’ll be successful.”
The Tigers (3-3, 3-1 in Class 2A, Region 2) will be completing a four-game home stretch this week against the Flying Squadron, and Ingram said a big crowd is essential.
“Our crowd was outstanding (last Friday night),” Ingram said. “I don’t know that I’ve ever heard them get into a game like that. They were on their feet the whole second half.
Ingram said fans support is something the team feeds off of.
“We need them back Friday night,” he said. “They just don’t understand what that means to these kids.”
After watching Ryce come back from an injury, and playing as well as he did, Ingram said he will keep him under center this week against the Flying Squadron.
In addition, Ingram noted that Highland Home runs “different formations.”
“They can present you with some problems,” he said. “I look forward to it being a hard fought game. They do a lot of different formations.
“We’ve just got to be able to adjust to what they’re doing,” he said. “I’m still looking for more consistency on offense, where we can run the clock a little and keep the defense off the field.”
Kickoff in Red Level is at 7 p.m.