Atascocita Observer - Sports
Wilcats set sights on Spring after upset win at Cypress Ridge
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| Darius Tubbs makes a leaping catch over two Cypress Ridge defenders during Humble's zero week upset victory. |
By STEPHEN WHITFIELD
Fresh off its upset win at Cypress Ridge, the Humble High School football team faces yet another test in a hostile environment this Friday against Spring at George Stadium.
If last week’s games were any indication, it could be an aerial show.
Humble quarterback Keith Baker’s performance at Cypress Ridge has to be pleasing to the coaching staff heading into this week’s game.
Baker was an efficient 8-15 for 189 yards, but he came up with perfect passes in big moments. Two of Baker’s completions went for more than 30 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cody Tucker late in the first quarter.
Spring’s secondary was torched in its 28-17 win over Langham Creek last week. The Lions allowed Langham Creek quarterback Will Bryant to throw for 359 yards and two touchdowns.
With an inexperienced offensive line, Humble will look to pass early in order to set up the running game. If Baker and Tubbs can stretch the field on Spring’s secondary, they can keep the game close.
On defense, the Wildcats’ main concern has to be Spring quarterback Kenric McNeal.
While McNeal has been recruited by Texas A&M, in Spring, coach Sonny Karas’ offense expects to see him pass a lot more than he runs. Against Langham Creek, McNeal completed 23 of 26 passes for 259 yards.
One thing that has to concern Humble is the play of the defensive line. The Rams rushed for 132 yards last week with most of those yards coming up the middle of the field. Tackle Lamarc Strahan barely made a dent in the Cypress Ridge backfield despite being single covered most of the game.
Head coach Walt Beasley attributed Cypress Ridge’s ground success to its stout offensive line, but the Wildcats should still be concerned.
Spring has a pass-first offense, but running backs Darel Haynes and Cory Phillips combined to rush for 130 yards on 21 carries against Langham Creek last week. If the Lions see a weakness in the Wildcats’ run defense, they have the talent to exploit it.
Beasley, though, is only worried about making sure his team executes as well this week as it did against Cypress Ridge.
“The only thing we’ve got to worry about is that we’ve got a bunch of young kids who played as well as they could possibly play,” Beasley said. “What they’re going to have to understand is if they don’t play that well this week, the result is not going to be the same.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Next game: Spring at George Stadium, Friday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m.
Scouting report: Spring employs a wide-open offense that should provide a tough test for Humble’s inexperienced secondary. Lions quarterback Kenric McNeal is technically a dual-threat quarterback, but he is far more likely to beat opponents with his arms than with his legs. In Spring’s 28-17 victory over Langham Creek last week, McNeal completed 23 of 26 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
Last game:HUMBLE 24, CYPRESS RIDGE 13
Turning point:With just under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Humble leading 21-13, Wildcats safety Todd Lyons intercepted Cypress Ridge quarterback Russell Shepard in Rams territory. The pick set up an eight-play FG drive that ran more than four minutes off the clock and effectively put the game away.
Key player:Keith Baker - The senior quarterback may have had modest stats (8-15, 189 yards, 2 TDs), but he came up with the big plays on offense when Humble needed them. Unsung hero:Wildcats’ defense - The boxscore shows that Shepard threw for 248 yards, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Shepard got 89 yards on his lone touchdown pass and 75 more came on Cypress Ridge’s final possession when the game was already out of reach. Outside of that, the largely untested Humble defense kept the explosive Rams quarterback in check.
For more information, log on to www.hcnfootball.com or check out observersports.wordpress.com.
If last week’s games were any indication, it could be an aerial show.
Humble quarterback Keith Baker’s performance at Cypress Ridge has to be pleasing to the coaching staff heading into this week’s game.
Baker was an efficient 8-15 for 189 yards, but he came up with perfect passes in big moments. Two of Baker’s completions went for more than 30 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cody Tucker late in the first quarter.
Spring’s secondary was torched in its 28-17 win over Langham Creek last week. The Lions allowed Langham Creek quarterback Will Bryant to throw for 359 yards and two touchdowns.
With an inexperienced offensive line, Humble will look to pass early in order to set up the running game. If Baker and Tubbs can stretch the field on Spring’s secondary, they can keep the game close.
On defense, the Wildcats’ main concern has to be Spring quarterback Kenric McNeal.
While McNeal has been recruited by Texas A&M, in Spring, coach Sonny Karas’ offense expects to see him pass a lot more than he runs. Against Langham Creek, McNeal completed 23 of 26 passes for 259 yards.
One thing that has to concern Humble is the play of the defensive line. The Rams rushed for 132 yards last week with most of those yards coming up the middle of the field. Tackle Lamarc Strahan barely made a dent in the Cypress Ridge backfield despite being single covered most of the game.
Head coach Walt Beasley attributed Cypress Ridge’s ground success to its stout offensive line, but the Wildcats should still be concerned.
Spring has a pass-first offense, but running backs Darel Haynes and Cory Phillips combined to rush for 130 yards on 21 carries against Langham Creek last week. If the Lions see a weakness in the Wildcats’ run defense, they have the talent to exploit it.
Beasley, though, is only worried about making sure his team executes as well this week as it did against Cypress Ridge.
“The only thing we’ve got to worry about is that we’ve got a bunch of young kids who played as well as they could possibly play,” Beasley said. “What they’re going to have to understand is if they don’t play that well this week, the result is not going to be the same.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Next game: Spring at George Stadium, Friday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m.
Scouting report: Spring employs a wide-open offense that should provide a tough test for Humble’s inexperienced secondary. Lions quarterback Kenric McNeal is technically a dual-threat quarterback, but he is far more likely to beat opponents with his arms than with his legs. In Spring’s 28-17 victory over Langham Creek last week, McNeal completed 23 of 26 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
Last game:HUMBLE 24, CYPRESS RIDGE 13
Turning point:With just under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Humble leading 21-13, Wildcats safety Todd Lyons intercepted Cypress Ridge quarterback Russell Shepard in Rams territory. The pick set up an eight-play FG drive that ran more than four minutes off the clock and effectively put the game away.
Key player:Keith Baker - The senior quarterback may have had modest stats (8-15, 189 yards, 2 TDs), but he came up with the big plays on offense when Humble needed them. Unsung hero:Wildcats’ defense - The boxscore shows that Shepard threw for 248 yards, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Shepard got 89 yards on his lone touchdown pass and 75 more came on Cypress Ridge’s final possession when the game was already out of reach. Outside of that, the largely untested Humble defense kept the explosive Rams quarterback in check.
For more information, log on to www.hcnfootball.com or check out observersports.wordpress.com.
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