Everman Preview

Jacob Martella, Staff Writer
October 20, 2010
Filed under Sports

Throughout their undefeated district run, the Jaguars haven’t really been tested. The teams they’ve played in district have a combined record of 4-12 in district play. Against Everman Friday night, however, the Jags will recieve their first real test of the season.

Everman comes into the game undefeated in district play and looking to get a leg up in the race for the district championship. The winner of this game also cinches a spot in the playoffs.

The Jags are coming off of a 56-6 win against Joshua and head coach Travis Pride said that they have been improving week to week. 

“We’ve never taken a step back,” Pride said. “Our goal is to improve weekly and we have.”

In their first four games of district play, the Jaguar defense has held teams to just over eight points per game and only 186 yards of total offense per game. But the Jags will face a running back in Cory Franklin that they haven’t seen so far. Franklin has 938 yards rushing with nine touchdowns and has added two more recieving the ball. Defensive back Brandon Allen said it will take everyone to stop him.

“It’s going to take a team effort,” Allen said. “It’s going to take great tackling and us swarming to the ball.”

Coach Pride on the other hand said that they won’t be able to stop him completely.

“We just have to minimize his big plays,” Pride said. “He gets five, six, seven, eight big plays a game. We need to limit him to one or two. Their big play guys account for almost all of their touchdowns.”

The Jags’ offense has seen the most improvement over the course of district play. In non-district action, the offense score 25 points per game. Since the start of district play, however, the Jags have averaged 37.5 points per game. To keep that going against Everman, wide receiver Donovan Ellis knows what he has to do.

“I have to play for seven seconds,” Ellis said. “When my number is called, I have to make the play.”

For the offense to be successful, Coach Pride said they can’t hurt themselves.

“We can’t have self-inflicted errors,” Pride said. “We have to control the ball, make good decisions, block and do the little things that make us successful.”

With a win, the Jags will clinch a playoff berth, their first since 2007 when they went undefeated in district. Donovan Ellis said they have “last game” mentality going into Friday.

“We’re going to play this game like it’s our last game,” Ellis said.