Bulldogs focused on Catholic Friday
Published 12:02 am Friday, October 17, 2014
![1017 spt-Chase, Brayden](https://www.andalusiastarnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/10/1017-spt-Chase-Brayden.jpg)
Andalusia’s Brayden Burkhardt (18) pulls a hand off to Chase Hopkins during an earlier game this season. | Andrew Garner/Star-News
First and foremost, the first objective for Andalusia tonight is to get through Montgomery Catholic in a region game at AHS Stadium.
The Bulldogs will be without five of its players and an additional 14 for a half of tonight’s game because they were accused of stealing candy and drinks at the Headland game last week.
“I’m very disappointed in the choices my players made,” AHS head football coach Brian Seymore said.
The Knights (2-5) run out of the Wing-T offense with a shot gun package.
“That’s very similar to what Ashford put in,” Seymore said, referring to his team’s 37-7 loss to the Yellow Jackets earlier this year. “That definitely presented us with some problems and hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes we had against Ashford. You really have to play assignment football and take care of your responsibility.”
Additionally, Seymore said good tackling is a must, too.
Running out of the Wing-T, Montgomery Catholic likes to hand the ball off to Thomas Stokes Jr.
“He’s a good, physical runner,” Seymore said. “We definitely want to start with maintaining our focus with him. The central part of the Wing-T offense is the fullback. We want to start with him. We’ve really worked hard, and used that Ashford game as a reference to their offense.”
During Tuesday afternoon’s practice, the Bulldogs worked on team defense for a while to try and get used to the many options the offense can present.
“There is much misdirection and guards pulling,” Seymore said about the offense. “There are a lot of backs pulling. We’re trying to get in the defensive mind set of seeing the most popular plays and the most popular sets, so they can get a feel for what they’re looking for on Friday nights.”
Ever since the St. James game, in which Andalusia lost 21-7, the Bulldogs’ defense has improved because it went back to playing a more “simple” style of scheme, the coach said.
“To be able to line up, know your assignment and being aggressive toward the football; I know that sounds really simple and it just goes back to the fundamentals,” Seymore said. “We weren’t getting lined up correctly. We weren’t sure about our assignments and what to do. We played really good for three quarters (against St. James). Even though we lost the game, I thought we played better.”
Through week eight, Andalusia is in a three-way tie at 3-2 in Class 4A, Region 2 with Ashford and Trinity Presbyterian.
Seymore said the region picture as to who gets in the playoffs and where each team will be seeded will be clearer after this week.
“I really think Straughn will be Bullock and Trinity will beat Headland,” he said. “It comes down to our game against Catholic and then the St. James-Ashford match up. We know what we’ve got to do of course.”
Seymore said that’s to win out.
“We’re just concentrating on Montgomery Catholic,” he said. “We’re not looking ahead and taking anybody for granted.”
Kick off tonight is set for 7.