The positives far outweighed the negatives as Wildcats Head Football Coach Greg Owens shared his thoughts on the Friday night’s Wildcats’ season opening win over Frisco Wakeland, 37-35 on KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show.
He began at a logical place, the offensive line. Coach Owens said they did a really good job. He liked their pass protection. Coach Owens gave the offensive line credit for their part in hogging the ball and running off nearly seven minutes on the clock after the Wolverines scored to get within two points in the fourth quarter.
Good line work means a running game that worked. Coach Owens said back Caden Davis did not run the football like a sophomore. He said senior Colton Allen also ran the ball well. Coach Owens said senior quarterback D’Corian Young is growing up and maturing adding he was methodical in his execution. He said Young had several runs that really hurt Wakeland. Coach Owens especially liked a play where Young, on the run, found big B back Jermond Bryant-Amos and hit him for a big pass play along the sideline. Coach Owens also liked the touchdown passes to receivers Austin Dodd and Landry Tyson.
Concerning the defense, Coach Owens said they gave up only 37 yards rushing on the night. He said nose guard Ignacio Guerrero and the defensive front played well. Coach Owens singled out Kylan Wade and D.Q. Pitts for their outside linebacker play. He was very pleased with interceptions by safeties Dodd and Jase Thompson. Coach Owens said he is convinced Thompson actually intercepted a second pass although the officials ruled the second one hit the ground before Thompson secured it. Coach Owens said inside linebacker Daniel Moreno played an exceptional game. (Wildcats’ stats show Moreno was the leading tackles and assists player for the Wildcats with 7) In one of the key plays in the game, inside linebacker Bryce McQueen hit the quarterback as he threw and outside linebacker Pitts broke up the pass to preserve the Wildcats lead on a two point try after touchdown. Coach Owens also liked the punting of Bryant-Amos. (Jermond punted twice averaging 36 yards and both kicks ended up inside the 20 yard line)
Coach Owens indicated he may be inclined to schedule Frisco Wakeland more in the future. He said Coach Marty Secord impressed him and he added the programs were comparable with each other.
Next for the Wildcats is Lucas Lovejoy at Gerald Prim Stadium Friday night. The Leopards knocked the Wildcats out of the playoffs in bi-district at Prim Stadium last November. Coach Owens said Lovejoy Coach Todd Ford is a class act and he said he is an easy coach to deal with. He said some of the Leopards’ excellent players, including Bumper Pool who went to Arkansas, have graduated. (Coach Owens and his staff got a first hand view of the Leopards Saturday as Lovejoy defeated Frisco Heritage, 42-26 to open the season) Two 1-0 teams will clash Friday night at The Prim.
