Are Yoe ready? - 2018 season begins Friday in Alvarado

The time for scrimmages has come and gone, and now we are ready for the start of the 2018 Texas high school football season. Many believe it’s the best time of the year, and the Yoemen have plans on making it a memorable run. Cameron will start that journey tomorrow night by taking on the Mexia Blackcats on the road at Alvarado.

The game was originally scheduled to be played in Mexia, but the new turf was not going to be ready in time. Switching home sites was not really an option for the Yoemen.

“Mexia called and said their field was not going to be ready,” said Yoe coach Tommy Brashear. “He called about switching home games or switching sites and I told him that I would want a neutral site. If I switched home games, that means I would have six at home this year and four at home next year.”

There were plenty of options on the table, but with everyone else already playing somewhere on Friday, it was difficult to find someone that would host the matchup.

“I gave him some ideas that I knew were on the road,” said Brashear. “We were fine with Friday but could go Saturday because we were open. He really didn’t want to do that because they play in week two and he could not find anything in the Waco area. The closest thing he could find was Alvarado and he was apologetic about it because it was a further trip for everybody. I look at is as a way to prepare for longer trips when you get into the playoffs. If your kids can handle and get used to that, it’s not a big deal later on.”

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the expectations are pretty low for this Mexia team in 2018, as they are predicted to finish sixth out of seven team in 8-4A DII. Predictions: 1. Fairfield, 2. Madisonville, 3. Waco Connally, 4. Lorena, 5. Salado, 6. Mexia, 7. Robinson.

“They are in a tough district, but I don’t think I would have picked them to finish second to last,” said Brashear. “They have a lot of returners back on both sides. They lost a couple of really good players, but when I look at them on film, they have a lot of really good players.”

Mexia finished 2017 with a record of 6-6 and fell in the area round of the playoffs to West Orange-Stark, 17-3.

Cameron and Mexia are meeting for the first time on the gridiron since 2000, when Cameron shutout the Blackats 34-0 in the area round of the playoffs. Cameron advanced on to the quarterfinals that year, falling to Marlin, 27-26.

Offense

Mexia is a team that will feature speed across the board and should test Cameron both through the air and on the ground.

“They have big play threats and they are dangerous,” said Brashear. “It is always a goal of our to prevent the big play, but especially with a team like this.”

The Blackcats are returning six offensive starters from a team that averaged 20.8 points per ball game. A player to watch will be running-back Jadrian Smith, which started as a junior in what was Frank Sandova’s first year in charge of the program.

“They don’t do a whole lot on offense and they keep it simple,” said Brashear. They are kind of multiple and they will get in some spread stuff like us. They will have some two-back and three-back stuff. They like to take shots deep, so we have to be good in coverage and not give that up. Their quarterback is very athletic and if you flush him out of the pocket, that could be dangerous. He played corner for them last year on defense. Not big, but quick and lightning fast.”

Defense

Mexia is returning five starters from a defense that gave up 19 points per game in 2017. The Blackcats are going to base out of the 3-4 - like the Yoemen - but will do some different things in the secondary.

“They run a little man and man free, but they will also run some cover three,” said Brashear. “Their safeties will be deep most of the time to prevent the big play and they do a good job not giving up those big plays.”

Brashear noted that he was impressed with Mexia as a whole, but particularly was worried about the defense. The Blackats did not give up a touchdown in their scrimmages with Franklin (shortened due to a skirmish) and Rockdale.

“They are more impressive on defense, not to say they aren’t impressive on offense. The two inside linebackers run to the ball and they are probably their two best defenders. They have a good nose for the ball.”

Outlook

Cameron has looked good running the ball in their opening two scrimmages. If they can find success here, that could prove to be a big step forward from what has occured the past few years.

“I have felt really good about our run game through the first two scrimmages,” said Brashear. “The last two years not being able to run the ball has hurt us. So far, we have been better at running and stopping the run. The last two years people could just play coverage on us and say run the ball and we really couldn't.”

As far as the game plan for Mexia, Brashear feels that they must contain the quarterback, not allowing him to scramble, while possibly taking advantage of what could be an over-aggressive defense.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.