Red Level’s going back to the basics

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, October 22, 2013

For the next two weeks, Red Level’s going back to the basics.

The Tigers, who haven’t won a game this season, will kick off against Brantley on Friday at home. RLS ends its season next week at home on senior night against Prattville Christian.

RLS head football coach David Godwin said these next two weeks will equate to having “spring training.”

“We’re going to use this time to polish up the older guys and put a lot of focus on the kids who will be the future,” Godwin said. “We’re going to go back to the basics, and see what the young guys do.”

Brantley enters Friday’s game 7-1 overall, and 6-0 in Class 1A, Region 2. The Bulldogs beat Pleasant Home 49-12 last week to win the region championship.

Offensively, Brantley’s Andrew Parker at running back and Wesley Person at quarterback are the two main threats for the Tigers.

Godwin said sometimes BHS will use Parker in the wildcat.

“He’s a real good runner,” the coach said. “He’s equally good on defense.”

On Person as a QB, Godwin said he’s only gotten better, much like the rest of the team, as the season has progressed.

“They threw the ball a lot against Pleasant Home,” Godwin said. “That was a little uncharacteristic for them. I don’t know if they were trying to work on their passing game for the playoffs, or what.

“Person has gotten more accurate with the football,” he said. “He’s more in control of their offense.”

Person’s favorite target is wide receiver Kaisaun Nichols.

Other than Parker, Person and Nichols, Godwin said there are several other players on Brantley’s team who play well.

“They just do an excellent job of coaching those kids up,” he said. “They’ve got (Ashley) Kilcrease as a first-year head coach. They have five assistant coaches. One of them has been a head coach for a state championship team. They put an emphasis on their coaching staff and program.

“I hope that’s something we can learn from here and try to mimic,” he said.

RLS still has a bunch of banged up and injured players on its roster. Kn’yn Jones and Anthony McClain didn’t play last week, and Godwin said he isn’t sure they’ll be on the field on Friday.

Additionally, William Crawford played a little last week, but is still nursing injuries he sustained in a recent car wreck.

Godwin said right now, there’s a good possibility that he’ll start four freshmen on the offensive side of the ball this week.

“We’re going to look at some of these younger guys and give them an opportunity and see what they can do,” he said.

Kick off in Red Level on Friday is at 7 p.m.