Bassett's preview (m'ville bulletin)

[mhsalum 31]

Bassett's returning champs hope to prove doubters wrong

By GAVIN JENKINS

Bulletin Sports Writer

 

Just because Bassett is the returning champion doesn't mean the Bengals are favorites to be crowned kings of the Piedmont District again this year, and head coach Jay Gilbert and company are well aware of this thanks to the Internet.

 

"The kids have seen sites on the web that already pre-rank our division, and they're not ranking us well," Gilbert said. "The kids are taking it as a challenge. They say they were on the team last year, too."

 

Indeed they were, and with 22 seniors, five of which make up a strong offensive line, the Bengals are hoping to prove the naysayers wrong and repeat as district champions.

 

Leading the way on offense will be five seniors who will have to open up some holes for an inexperienced backfield. These lineman are right tackle Jacob Foley (6-3, 268), right guard John Schlueter (6-0, 208), center Tim Miller (6-3, 204), left guard Wes Stone (6-1, 224) and left tackle Ryan Stone (6-6, 325). "Three of them live in the weight room in the offseason," Gilbert said. "Foley, Schlueter and Miller -- they've been lifting for... they've been lifting forever. They all have a tremendous work ethic, all got decent size.

 

"Schlueter is the smallest but probably the strongest. His dad Randy has done a good job with him. He's really worked with him through the years."

 

Gilbert has been doing a lot of work during the past couple of weeks with some freshmen, one on offense and one on defense.

 

On offense, he has Rashawn "Boo" Woods (5-8, 180), a quarterback who will be splitting time under center with junior Robbie White (5-10, 175) while senior Brandon Johnson (5-10, 171) recovers from a broken thumb.

 

Gilbert said he's hoping to get Johnson back under center during Bassett's open week, which is the third week of the season.

 

"I'm a firm believer that an injury does not lose a position," Gilbert said. "The quarterback position is Brandon's to lose when he gets back."

Until then, Gilbert said he might have to split time between White and Woods, though he said maturity could play a factor.

 

"Rashawn will probably feel nervous out there," he said. "He needs to learn more of the option, and then he'll come around. This throws Rashawn into the fire, and Robbie sat out last year, so he's like a freshman, too. The offense is new to him. This could pay off for us in the long run for getting snaps for the new kids."

 

Quarterback is not the only position in the back field where two Bengals could be sharing playing time. Senior Marcous Muse (5-10, 156) and sophomore Martin Scales (5-11, 173) will probably split time at tailback.

 

"One of them gives us the outside and the speed, and that's Muse," Gilbert said. "Scales is a sophomore, and he hits the holes best. Both are giving us two facets at tailback. Whoever picks up the other facet first will be the starter."

 

Rounding out the backfield will be fullback Justin Woods (6-1, 263), and filling out other skills positions are senior slotback Glen Yates (5-10, 162) and senior split end Robert Zook (5-8, 128), who, according to Gilbert, has been receiving stiff competition from sophomore Tony Womack (6-5, 204). The tight ends will be either Elijah McCall (6-1, 219) or Josh Eanes (6-4, 213).

 

McCall, a senior inside linebacker, led the team in tackles the past two seasons, and Gilbert is building the defense around him this year.

 

"We're going to run a little 4-3 to put him in the middle of the field a little bit," he said. "We'll stay with the 3-4, too, but this is just to get Elijah in the middle of the field where he can play on both sides of the field. He has instinct you can't coach. It's in his genes."

 

Bassett's defense also will include a freshman named Damian Hairston (6-0, 309), who will be a defensive end.

 

"People are going to say I'm crazy (for starting him), but Damian can move," Gilbert said. "This is not a gift. He deserves it."

The other defensive end will be junior Mitchell Mannon (6-1, 225). Wood will start at noseguard, but when he comes out, junior Jahmal Noel (5-8, 181) will substitute for him. Splitting time at the other inside linebacker positions will be Scales and junior Niles Ferguson (5-9, 161). The outside linebackers are Miller and senior Eryn Covington (6-0, 182).

 

Bassett's secondary features a lot of speed with Johnson, Yates and Zook as cornerbacks, and Muse and junior Tamon Witcher (5-8, 156) at safety.

 

While the backfield is a weakness -- Gilbert said the Bengals offense depends on how the backs gel -- a strong point is Bassett's special teams, which are led by senior Chris Dillon (5-4, 136).

 

"He's on every special teams," Gilbert said. "He's the kind of guy you need on the field."

 

Muse is set to return kicks for Bassett again this year, and kicker Jordan Tilley (5-9, 172) is back for his senior year.

 

"Travis Murphy is our special teams coach," Gilbert said, "and he does a real good job to make sure we have ample time to work on things in practice, so we're ready. We don't want to be put in the hole by special teams."

 

Gilbert said all of his assistant coaches make up a team strength.

 

"I can't say enough about them," he said. "A coach is only as good as the staff and players around him. Joe Favero, our defensive coordinator, if there was someone who works harder than me on game preparation, it's him. And Bill Parks does a whole lot of our film study. I break it down, and then he breaks it down even further."

 

Hopefully for the Bassett faithful, strong senior leadership and good coaching will prevail, and the Bengals won't have a breakdown on their way to a second Piedmont District championship.

[goalie 10]

well thanks for the info. but i heard that that "Boo" guy is a fresmen and hes taking most of the snaps.

[goalie 10]

here u go this is for varsity but it should be a good way to tell both teams