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Running Men: Plano West, SG to employ similar strategies
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@acnpapers.com
Plano West (0-1) and South Garland (0-2) aren't district rivals, but it might feel that way as tonight is the sixth time the teams have played since 2004.
"It does almost feel like you are playing a Plano (Senior), a (Plano) East or an Allen," said Mike Hughes, West head coach. "When you play the same team year in and year out you get a better feel for what they do."
And the Wolves clearly have a good feel for the Colonels as they are 4-1 against them this decade, including a 21-7 victory last season.
"What South Garland does is simple, but very effective," Hughes said.
The Colonels are a bit of a throwback offense, operating out of the two-tight end, two-back system. South Garland will look to feed West a steady diet of toss sweeps, traps and counters.
"We see two offenses like that, South Garland and (Flower Mound) Marcus," Hughes said. "Our plan will be to put as many guys in the box as we can to stop the run and make them throw."
That strategy, which West began working on during its bye week, would appear to be the right one.
Whereas South Garland quarterback Trey Porter has only thrown for 100 yards total in two games, the Colonels already have three backs at more than 100 yards rushing in Dequincy Anderson, Ezekiel Spellman and Marquel McNac, who have combined for 423 yards rushing and four touchdowns. As a whole, South Garland is averaging 275 yards rushing per game behind an offensive line that is led by Daniel Gutierrez.
West's defensive strategy will put additional pressure on senior cornerback Amin Fooman and junior cornerback Davis Roeschke.
"We are going man-to-man with our corners," Hughes said, "so they will be on a bit of an island out there, but I trust them to do well."
While West tries to stop South Garland's rushing attack, the Wolves will attempt to establish their own.
"There is no doubt we have to get the run game going," Hughes said.
West had just 152 yards of total offense in its season-opening loss to Arlington Martin, with 92 of those yards coming on the ground.
And while the offensive line will be short a starter this week, as senior Chase Thomas is still injured, the stable of ball carriers will grow by one.
Sophomore Auston Anderson got the Week 0 start in the backfield and that may be the case again tonight, but West is also expecting to move junior Tim Okposin into the mix early. Those two won't be the only players to run the ball though as senior quarterback Carson Smith and senior wide receiver Carlos Wiggins are also threats on the ground.
"We have four guys that can run the ball for us," Hughes said. "We need to get it in their hands, get them out in space and let them make plays. And that starts up front; we need the offensive line to play better and our backs have to block."
South Garland would seem to be a good team to implement that strategy against as its 3-4 defense is somewhat undersized, but the Colonels have allowed less than 300 yards per game thus far.
"South Garland isn't huge," Hughes said, "but they play with great technique and have good team speed."
That unit is led by Anderson and Brice Brooks in the defensive backfield, an area West will be looking to challenge.
"We aren't going to be the same team we were in years past when we would throw the ball 25 times a game," Hughes said. "But that just means when we do throw the ball, we need to make it count."
The Wolves completed just six passes in the opener with Wiggins hauling in five receptions and the other going to junior Connor Doyle.
Reversing that trend is a must if West is to make Week 2 the spot for win No. 1.
"Our guys know we have to execute better across the board," Hughes said. "But they have always done a good job of putting a win or loss behind them and focusing on the next game. And the weather has been a big shot in the arm for us; we've had a really good week of practices."
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