S-C gridders enter teeth of schedule

While Smith-Cotton’s strength of schedule has been under a microscope for the past week, you can’t question the caliber of opponents Hickman Mills has faced six weeks into the 2009 campaign.

The Cougars haven’t faced a sub-.500 team all year, with their opponents’ combined record sitting at 24-12. They’ve faced three ranked Class 4 opponents, and they’ve walked away with a respectable 3-3 record despite facing 5-1 Maryville, 6-0 perennial powerhouse Staley and Smith-Cotton’s quarterfinal foe from last season, 4-2 Kearney.

Coming into Jennie Jaynes Stadium on Friday for a 7 p.m. showdown against the fifth-ranked Smith-Cotton Tigers, it’s safe to assume the Cougars won’t be star-struck playing against another Class 4 heavy-hitter.

“This a very good football team,” Smith-Cotton coach Mark Johnson said. “Their three losses came against three of the better teams in the state. Their quarterback (Jerrin Walton) and running back (Derrick Thompson) were extremely good last year and are even better this year, and they’re using them more in a better game plan that’s going to give us a challenge.”

Led by quarterback Jerrin Walton, who coach Johnson believes is the best quarterback Smith-Cotton has faced all year, the Cougars have averaged 21 points a game. And they’ve done that against stiff defenses — Staley, Raytown South and Kearney have each allowed less than 12 points a contest, garnering a collective six shutouts.

The Cougars’ defensive numbers have also taken a hit based on the prolific offenses they’ve faced — they’ve given up 33 points and more than 300 yards a game. All in all, besides a 28-25 win over fifth-ranked Class 2 opponent Maryville, the Cougars haven’t fared well in the big games on both sides of the ball.

Facing a Tigers’ offense that has scored nearly 42 points a contest and a defense that has allowed a mere 11 points a game, the Cougars should have trouble reversing the trend.

The Tigers steamrolled the Cougars in 2008, cruising to a 48-6 victory at home behind an offense that garnered over 550 yards and a defense that created five turnovers.

The effort was one of many banner-day performances for last year’s Tigers, and Hickman Mills was just another lowly casualty. This year, however, the Cougars stand out, entering the contest as arguably the toughest opponent the Tigers have faced all year.

It’s a statement game for both teams as the Tigers look to erase any doubts concerning their “soft” schedule.

While the rushing attack is the go-to option that puts points on the scoreboard, the aerial game is the weapon most fans want to see unleashed. With only 366 yards and three scores through the air this season, the passing attack has taken a back seat in the blowout wins.

Kendal Brown has established his cannon of an arm downfield, completing six passes for 30-plus-yard gains, while Dominique Smith has thrived in setting up the run game with short, efficient passes.

“If the game situation says, hey, we have to throw the ball, we throw the ball,” Johnson said. “Our passing game’s getting better with Dom and Kendal and we haven’t been forced to pass based on the games getting out of hand early.”

The running game has created the bulk of scoring opportunities, reaching the end zone 32 times — more than five scores a contest — and averaging more than 337 yards. Andrew Byrd’s 1,155 yards, 10.69 yards per carry and 19 touchdowns stack up with any running back in the state, and are even slightly better than Solomon Watkins’ numbers (1,094 yards, 10.01 yards per carry, 19 TDs) at this point last year.

The defense has followed suit by forcing three-and-outs and turnovers and creating scoring opportunities for the offense. Highlighted by three shutouts and 12 forced turnovers, the Tigers have stood up to the lofty standards placed on them in the preseason.

“At the beginning of the season, I mentioned our defense is going to be our strong part, and for the most, they haven’t let me down,” Johnson said. “We just need to find consistency, but they’ve done well and they need to continue to improve.”

The contest will undoubtedly be a matchup to watch, as a win will validate Smith-Cotton’s ranking and backup the growing hype surrounding its program.

UP NEXT
Matchup: Hickman Mills at Smith-Cotton
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Jennie Jaynes Stadium
Radio: 1490 AM and 92.3 FM