Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:56:00
Eagles Prepare For First-Year Falcons
After surviving one speedy team in the first week of the season, the Canton Eagles get another try, this time in North Forney.
In the inaugural varsity season for the North Forney Falcons, the Eagles meet them in their second game. In the opening week, the Falcons fell to Wylie East, also in their season of varsity football, 49-46. North Forney has only juniors and sophomores on their varsity.
“They have a lot of team speed,” Canton head coach Wes Rhoten said in a repeat of the scouting report for Gladewater. “Defensively, they of good speed overall, and both of their cornerbacks can cover a lot of ground.
“They line up in a cover-three, which normally, we’re excited to see that, but No. 2 (C.J. Howard) and No. 21 (Darryl Malone) are good athletes. The run to the ball.”
Howard is the only player on the team that will start both ways, and he scored four of the Falcons’ five touchdowns against Wylie East from his wide receiver position.
“They have enough talent to spread the ball around on offense, but they have three main cogs,” Rhoten said. “The quarterback, the running back and No. 2.”
The quarterback is No. 7, Stephen Buckley, and he threw for over 310 yards in the teams’ debut. The single back in the backfield is No. 3, D’Andre Randell.
“He’s listed as a 4.3 guy,” Rhoten said. “He’s real shifty and has good vision. He rushed for over 150 yards Friday.”
The Falcons line up with four wide receivers, but like to run as well, including option plays with Buckley and Randell.
“The quarterback is really good,” Rhoten added. “He’s pretty mobile and three five touchdown passes.”
Along with Howard, the Falcons will line up Richard Lambert (No. 8), Rowin Ragsdale (No. 20) and Brendan Lyons (No. 9) at receiver.
Defensively, besides Howard and Malone, North Forney is led by linebacker Forrest Garza.
The Eagles have shown they can survive a high-scoring game, and may need to show it again on Friday. Canton overcame a 28-14 deficit at halftime to defeat Gladewater, 42-41.
“The most gratifying part of the win was that the kids believed what we were telling them,” Rhoten said of the week one win. “There was no sense of panic at halftime. They knew if we corrected our mistakes we could win.”
Rhoten said that the defensive adjustments the Eagles made at the half were minor.
“We put guys at different angles,” the coach explained “I think the different placement caused them some confusion, but the biggest thing is the kids believed. They came out with a mission, and I can’t speak highly enough of the way the kids responded.
“We needed the defense to come out and force a three-and-out and they did it,” Rhoten continued. “Conner Eiland got the turnover on the next possession and then the offense went on a nice six-minute drive – which is unique for us – and tie the score. By then the momentum was on our side.
Friday’s game is at CitiBank Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will be in Mabank on September 10 to take on the Panthers.
In the inaugural varsity season for the North Forney Falcons, the Eagles meet them in their second game. In the opening week, the Falcons fell to Wylie East, also in their season of varsity football, 49-46. North Forney has only juniors and sophomores on their varsity.
“They have a lot of team speed,” Canton head coach Wes Rhoten said in a repeat of the scouting report for Gladewater. “Defensively, they of good speed overall, and both of their cornerbacks can cover a lot of ground.
“They line up in a cover-three, which normally, we’re excited to see that, but No. 2 (C.J. Howard) and No. 21 (Darryl Malone) are good athletes. The run to the ball.”
Howard is the only player on the team that will start both ways, and he scored four of the Falcons’ five touchdowns against Wylie East from his wide receiver position.
“They have enough talent to spread the ball around on offense, but they have three main cogs,” Rhoten said. “The quarterback, the running back and No. 2.”
The quarterback is No. 7, Stephen Buckley, and he threw for over 310 yards in the teams’ debut. The single back in the backfield is No. 3, D’Andre Randell.
“He’s listed as a 4.3 guy,” Rhoten said. “He’s real shifty and has good vision. He rushed for over 150 yards Friday.”
The Falcons line up with four wide receivers, but like to run as well, including option plays with Buckley and Randell.
“The quarterback is really good,” Rhoten added. “He’s pretty mobile and three five touchdown passes.”
Along with Howard, the Falcons will line up Richard Lambert (No. 8), Rowin Ragsdale (No. 20) and Brendan Lyons (No. 9) at receiver.
Defensively, besides Howard and Malone, North Forney is led by linebacker Forrest Garza.
The Eagles have shown they can survive a high-scoring game, and may need to show it again on Friday. Canton overcame a 28-14 deficit at halftime to defeat Gladewater, 42-41.
“The most gratifying part of the win was that the kids believed what we were telling them,” Rhoten said of the week one win. “There was no sense of panic at halftime. They knew if we corrected our mistakes we could win.”
Rhoten said that the defensive adjustments the Eagles made at the half were minor.
“We put guys at different angles,” the coach explained “I think the different placement caused them some confusion, but the biggest thing is the kids believed. They came out with a mission, and I can’t speak highly enough of the way the kids responded.
“We needed the defense to come out and force a three-and-out and they did it,” Rhoten continued. “Conner Eiland got the turnover on the next possession and then the offense went on a nice six-minute drive – which is unique for us – and tie the score. By then the momentum was on our side.
Friday’s game is at CitiBank Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will be in Mabank on September 10 to take on the Panthers.