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Final exam
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| Hightower's Bobie Dubose (34) runs for extra yards in the fourth quarter. (photo by Patric Schneider) |
By WES SWIFT
For the Hightower Hurricanes and the Pearland Oilers, Saturday’s Division 1, Region 3 football playoff final is like deja vu all over again.
Hightower has returned to the regional final for the second consecutive year. The Oilers return for the fourth time this decade.
So when these two teams clash, there won’t be a lot of playoff jitters.
And Hightower coach Shane Hallmark is stressing to his team that winning won’t be easy.
But the Hurricanes have learned during the playoffs this year that they can’t expect to run roughshod over teams like they did in the regular season.
Hightower trailed during its last two playoff games, but came back to win. In last week’s game against Cinco Ranch, the team fell behind 14-0 before coming back for a 24-21 win.
The comebacks proved the Hurricanes’ resiliency, Hallmark said.
“Our coaching staff, when we had our coaching meetings, we always wondered how our team would respond when they got in a tight game, and they answered that,” he said. “The North Shore game was the first time they were behind all season, and they fought back. Then Cinco had us down 14-0, and of course we fought back.”
Pearland will pose serious challenges on both sides of the ball for the Hurricanes. The undefeated Oilers boast one of the most powerful offenses in the area.
Led by quarterback Sam Allen (1,711 yards passing and 19 touchdowns) and running back Kasey Carrier (1,964 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns), the Oilers average 435 yards per game and 43.25 points per contest.
“We can’t let (Carrier) get big plays on us,” Hallmark said. “We’re gonna try to bottle him up the best we can, and understand that he’s probably going to get some big plays.
“Then you got to worry about the quarterback. He’s a great player too, fun to watch. So we got our hands full.”
Part of the Canes’ defensive strategy will focus on their own offense too. Expect Hightower to run the football to use as much time as possible and keep the Oiler offense off the field.
“We have to be able to run the football and control the clock some and keep our defense off the field as much as we can” Hallmark said. “If we go out and let Pearland control the ball offensively, we’re going to get tired.”
Running the ball will require the Hurricanes to break a small trend. In the last two games, Hightower has only averaged 89.5 yards per game on the ground.
Hightower vs. Pearland
When: 2 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Tully Stadium
On the Web
For a video preview of the Pearland-Hightower game, visit www.hcnfootball.com
Hightower has returned to the regional final for the second consecutive year. The Oilers return for the fourth time this decade.
So when these two teams clash, there won’t be a lot of playoff jitters.
And Hightower coach Shane Hallmark is stressing to his team that winning won’t be easy.
But the Hurricanes have learned during the playoffs this year that they can’t expect to run roughshod over teams like they did in the regular season.
Hightower trailed during its last two playoff games, but came back to win. In last week’s game against Cinco Ranch, the team fell behind 14-0 before coming back for a 24-21 win.
The comebacks proved the Hurricanes’ resiliency, Hallmark said.
“Our coaching staff, when we had our coaching meetings, we always wondered how our team would respond when they got in a tight game, and they answered that,” he said. “The North Shore game was the first time they were behind all season, and they fought back. Then Cinco had us down 14-0, and of course we fought back.”
Pearland will pose serious challenges on both sides of the ball for the Hurricanes. The undefeated Oilers boast one of the most powerful offenses in the area.
Led by quarterback Sam Allen (1,711 yards passing and 19 touchdowns) and running back Kasey Carrier (1,964 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns), the Oilers average 435 yards per game and 43.25 points per contest.
“We can’t let (Carrier) get big plays on us,” Hallmark said. “We’re gonna try to bottle him up the best we can, and understand that he’s probably going to get some big plays.
“Then you got to worry about the quarterback. He’s a great player too, fun to watch. So we got our hands full.”
Part of the Canes’ defensive strategy will focus on their own offense too. Expect Hightower to run the football to use as much time as possible and keep the Oiler offense off the field.
“We have to be able to run the football and control the clock some and keep our defense off the field as much as we can” Hallmark said. “If we go out and let Pearland control the ball offensively, we’re going to get tired.”
Running the ball will require the Hurricanes to break a small trend. In the last two games, Hightower has only averaged 89.5 yards per game on the ground.
Hightower vs. Pearland
When: 2 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Tully Stadium
On the Web
For a video preview of the Pearland-Hightower game, visit www.hcnfootball.com
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