We're coming off of a disappointing loss on Saturday and the film review on Sunday added to the pain. We are aware of what we are without due to injury, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, but need to avoid falling into the excuse trap to justify lack of performance. Turnovers will always hurt and the three on Saturday led to scoring drives of 7, 9, and 30 yards for RMC. When a defense is struggling the offense cannot give them that type of field position. Our kids play hard, but they have to learn that playing hard and playing well are two different things. This week will be a real challenge and it is a game that has more to do about BC than Catholic University who we play. We will take a play-off like approach to the game and hope to send the seniors out with a final meeting being at the Victory Bell at Memorial Hall. They deserve it, and the underclassmen who are playing need to see again the results that concentrated effort through the week can bring. Injury has nothing to do with interceptions, fumbles, dropped passes, poor tackling, and busted coverage which were all contributors to the loss on Saturday. Give credit to RMC, they withstood a good 2nd quarter charge, took advantage of the breaks, and used their running game very effectively.
For the record, the FG fake that Smoot ran was called. He had to field a low snap but Ryan Richmond did a nice job of sealing the Safety who was sliding to check the edge. That was our first punt block in over 2 years and Jacob Hutchinson who was a back-up on that team and playing due to injury to Brandon Mitchell blocked the kick. During the week as the season progresses, we do not have time to rep the back-ups on these teams during practice. Jacob looked at the diagram on sideline and went out and blocked the kick. It was a big play that unfortunately flew 20 yards out of the end-zone for safety rather than us falling on it for a TD. It was also a game where we lost all three deep returners on kick-offs with Teley Tate, Rudy Jackson, and Patrick Asconi going down hurt. Sometimes you scramble. But as I told the kids after the game, our situation will not change regarding the injury stuff, but we must change. When you are shorthanded the margin for error is zero; we must except that as fact and try to play up to it. That is this week’s challenge.
We won a JV game 17-14 vs. Shenandoah on Sunday. Some great efforts by the young kids that we will study in the off-season.
Ralph Robinson, John Baker, and John Spencer who were the Defensive Coaches on the Stagg Bowl team have all committed to come back this week for the “Sharing 100” celebration at Stone Station Post Game. I hope all my former players who contributed to these wins can come back for this special post game tailgate. Contact me so I can give that group an accurate head count to prepare food and drink. I am challenging the 2009 team to do their part not to dampen the party. Go BC!
Coach Clark
(Click HERE to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)
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