Cameron hosts playoff hopeful Jarrell

Ever since their 11-1 season in 2015, the Jarrell Cougars had fallen on hard times.  In 2016, Jarrell finished winless at 0-10, and this past year was just 1-9.  Both years the team was winless in district play and was not in position to compete for a playoff spot.  That may be changing in 2018 as the Cougars have already picked up a district win over Lago Vista and may be in the hunt for the fourth and final playoff spot out of 10-3A.  

"They are doing something better this year," said Yoe coach Tommy Brashear.  "They are in the second year with Coach Davidson.  I do feel like he is a guy that is trying to get that program turned around.  He is not the athletic director there and they are really a basketball school, so that is a struggle for him in that sense.  But, I think think he has support to get it turned around."

Jarrell has already more doubled their win total from the past two years, with wins over Florence (48-15), Rosebud-Lott (40-19) and Lago Vista (31-15) while suffering defeats to Whitney (27-12), Riesel (44-35) and Troy (45-2).  

"They have some athletes over there but they just have to get them to buy and in sell out to it," said Brashear.  "They are more competitive this year compared to last year by far.  I think they'll be competing for that fourth place spot when it's all said and done. They are capable of beating us if we come out and turn the ball over and that kind of stuff.  We don't want to let them hang around in this game and keep that hope.  We want to jump on them early and put them down because they have some good kids."

Traditionally, Cameron has dominated Jarrell as they have pretty much every other team in the district.  These two played for the first time two years ago and through two games the team in maroon and grey has the 101-0 scoring advantage.  

Offense

The Cougar offense has really made strides through six games this season, averaging 28 points per contest.  That is up from last year's team that only scored 45 points their entire 10-game season.  
 

"They are a spread offense and are similar to us in many ways as they run some of the same stuff we run," said Brashear. 

This offense likes to stay as balanced as possible as the run-to-pass ratio currently sits at 52 to 48 on the season.  Like most spread offenses, success if predicated heavily on quarterback play.  Heron Rodriguez in the Cougars starting quarterback and is a dual-threat with his arm and his legs. 

"Their quarterback was the JV quarterback last year, and I felt their JV was the best one we played last year," Brashear said.  "We beat them and ended up losing to Rockdale, but they were impressive to me.  Now, you are seeing a lot of those kids on varsity as juniors from that team."

Defense

The Jarrell defense has also shown improvement this season, giving up 27.5 points per ball game compared to 47 points last year.  Much like Troy, Jarrell is going to base out of the 3-3 stack but can line up in a variety of formations.  

"Defensively, they mix up their looks a little bit and that can get you in bad situations and run bad plays," said Brashear.  "We need to line up quick and make a check if we want to, which we have been doing better in our last two games.  We need to get a feel for what they're going to try and do."

Brashear also noted that while Jarrell would not be the largest team they face this season, they do feature some speed.  

"They have some guys on the defensive line that are kind of athletic," said Brashear.  "They are not overpowering, but are quick.  Sometimes #50 (Devin Warren) plays nose and also the five technique, but he's very quick and has good hands."

Keys to victory

Much like last week, Cameron is going to have the advantage in many aspects of this game.  It may come down to not overlooking anyone and preparing properly.   

"We had a better practice today then I expected and I think a lot of that has to do with the cooler weather," said Brashear on the Monday practice.  "But, it was a concern in one of our meetings that it would be a hard week because the kids would not get up for Jarrell.  We have always beat them and they have been predominately down, plus you have the Troy score.  I sold them this morning that their center got kicked out of the game and their quarterback got hurt."