Grundy @ F.C. - article from Martinsville Bulletin

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Cavs focus on the field

By JOE MIEGOC

Bulletin Sports Writer

 

With plans for consolidation looming, it wouldn't have been a suprise to see Fieldale-Collinsville having a tough time concentrating on the football field.

 

But the Cavaliers (7-3, 5-2 Piedmont District) bucked those ideas and host Grundy (7-3) in the Region IV playoffs tonight.

 

"We really haven't talked about consolidation," Cavs' coach Jay Gilbert said Thursday. "There have been several times when we've been asked what we thought about it. I've told the kids from day one that we're focusing on this year and when this year is over, we'll approach next year. This year isn't over yet."

 

F-C blended a quick-strike offense with a fast defense and a very solid kicking game to move toward the top of the PD and into the playoffs.

 

"It's a complete team thing," Gilbert said. "We've got speed, we've got backs, we've got guys that love to hit and we've got a good kicking game. When all those things come together like they have this year, you're going to have success and hopefully it will continue throughout the playoffs."

 

The Cavs feature a three-headed monster in the backfield with tailbacks Terry Wimbush and Kelvin Craighead teaming with fullback Smacky Thomas to give teams plenty to worry about.

 

Wimbush went over a 1,000 yards for the season in last week's win over Laurel Park and, if not for penalties, Craighead may have joined him.

 

"With Kelvin we've started keeping up with penalty yards because he lost about 400 or 500 yards because of penalties this season," Gilbert explained. "Terry and Kelvin could have both run for 1,000 this year."

 

Although both tailbacks give Gilbert plenty of speed, Wimbush got the carries when the offense went in the I-formation, while Craighead did most of his work out of the wishbone. The Cavs have gone to more wishbone to get both backs more involved."

"The main reason we went to the bone was so that we could get (Terry and Kelvin) in at the same time," Gilbert explained. "That makes the other teams defend both sides of it and then you still have to defend the middle with Smacky."

 

The defense is built on speed, as the Cavs use just three lineman to allow the other eight defenders to flow to the football.

 

"Avery Taylor has been in people's backfields all year and (inside linebackers) Dierelle Kidd and Smacky can chase people down," Gilbert said. "Hopefully the three up front can occupy the gaps so the other guys can pursue the ball."

 

Grundy's offense is built around the pass and that is nothing new to the Cavs, who faced pass-happy James River and Hidden Valley in the regular season along with several PD teams that ran the spread offense.

 

"(Grundy) likes to throw the ball and will do it about six or seven times out of 10," Gilbert said. "They don't run the spread offense like some of the local teams we've played. They have a tight end and they just choose to throw out of that set instead of running so much."

 

Heading the Golden Wave's aerial attack will be quarterback Theo Justus, who reminds Gilbert of Tunstall's Brent Weaver, and a pair of six-foot receivers in Stephen Baker and James Stanley.

 

"They've got some weapons on offense," Gilbert said. "They have some tall receivers and hopefully our safeties can get over and help our corners because our corners aren't that tall."

 

When Grundy isn't airing it out, fullback Aaron Marcum will team up with tailback Garon Marcum to give the Golden Wave an inside-outside punch.

 

One thing the Cavs may have in their favor is placekicker Barry Joyce.

 

The senior booted eight field goals this season and consistently pinned teams deep with touchbacks, including three last week. "Barry makes the kickoff decision of which way you want to kickoff a little more interesting," Gilbert said. "We have the confidence for him to go ahead and kick (long field goals) because we know he has the foot to do it. It's a benefit that you know you only have to get the ball to the 30 and you're going to get points on the board more times than not."