Sports

Scrappers open second season with 10-1 Ricebirds November 20, 2008 - No reporter cited

Jim Pinson
Editor

NASHVILLE - “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” It is playoff time in Howard County and the Scrappers are entering their “second” season Friday night against the Stuttgart Ricebirds.

Nashville completed the regular season with a perfect 10-0 mark, claimed a conference crown and landed the number one seed throughout the playoffs. That’s if they continue to prepare well and remain mentally strong, according to Head Coach Billy Dawson.

Dawson stated that last week the Scrappers exhibited good intensity even though it was an off-week. “It was as good a week as you can have,” Dawson said.

He also said that this week’s practice was going well and that his team was looking forward to playing the Ricebirds.

However, Stuttgart does not appear to be a pushover on paper.

Stuttgart comes into Friday’s contest with a 10-1 record and are third in the state defensively in points allowed this season.

“They are well coached and disciplined,” Dawson said. “They don’t do anything really well. They just win.”

Dawson pointed out that the Ricebirds play hard and have not beaten themselves all season.

In many ways, the only thing that has changed in Stuttgart is the offensive scheme. Friday, Stuttgart will line up in several different formations, but will play with the same discipline, the same physical play, the same toughness and the same mentality that brought success and a rich tradition to the Ricebirds.

Stuttgart won the 5A state championship in 2001, but has found the playoff road a little tough in the 4A, with two consecutive defeats on the road at Warren.

Junior Zach Boleware (6-0, 165) will ignite the offense as the quarterback. “He is real good,” Dawson said. Boleware gives the Ricebirds the flexibility to run and pass out of a lot of different formations.

Boleware’s main target is Cody Burnett (6-4, 220). Dawson says that Burnett reminds him a lot of Dee Williams of Ashdown with his size and speed. Nashville will look for opportunities to have two defenders around Burnett as often as possible to eliminate the big play.

Stuttgart’s main running threat is Corey Racy (5-6, 170), but Logan Wilson has been getting more playing time as the season has gone on. Dawson says Wilson provides more speed, but Racy reminds him of Scrapper running back Derek Graham.

“He bounces off of tackles,” Dawson said.

Dawson stated that with Graham and Dylan Webb leading the team in tackles, with 81 and 80, that the defensive line does not get the credit they deserve.

“If those guys are playing well up front, then our linebackers will reap the benefits with a lot of tackles,” Dawson said.

Dawson also stated that Webb tied a state record with six sacks in Nashville’s final regular season game at Arkadelphia. He points out that Rob Coulter, Josh Wiley, Dustin Wakefield, Jawara Stuart and Jonathon Roquet are taking care of the blockers.

Nashville’s offensive balance is forcing opposing defenses to plan for everything. It seems that each week the Scrappers have a different offensive star. And,
Stuttgart will use a variety of blitz packages to disrupt the Scrapper offense. Therefore, Pierre Vaughn will be looked upon to make sure the Scrappers get in and out of the correct play this week.

The playoffs are finally here and Dawson says this is the reason you play hard during the regular season, to make a strong playoff run to Little Rock.