Football Notebook: Bearcats working on their defense
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
During what was my fifth day of the high school football tour I'm taking during a two-week period, I had the chance to visit with the Paint Valley Bearcats on their media day. I missed their team practice, but from what I was told, it was a good day of practice for the Bearcats.
Last season during one of their two-a-day practices, I wrote in detail about the Bearcats (who went 2-8 last year) and what their program goes on during one of those practices.
Being one of the media outlets that covers the Bearcats in great detail with complete game coverage and game previews throughout the season, one thing I know about the Paint Valley program is that they are dedicated, and they will put in the necessary hard work to overcome their two-win season from last year.
One thing PV must overcome is the dreaded injury bug which hampered last season like no other. Another thing PV head coach Pete Hollon said is the defense MUST perform much better than a season ago.
Did you realize the Bearcats allowed 32.2 points per game last year?
From what I figure, one big point from last season was players on the '11 team now have varsity game experience, which should knock away a lot of the unknown at the start of the season. A majority of the players have playing time at the varsity level, and from the ones I spoke with, they really want to help be the starting point of bringing back the football tradition of PV. (The Bearcats' last playoff appearance was in 2003.)
Two other aspects of the game Coach Hollon said they must have happen to be a success this year is to play solid in their early season schedule and to improve on their turnover ratio, which ended at -14 last year. Late in the season, the Bearcats did start to build on that aspect of their game because at one point a season ago it was at -27 (or close to that).
Here are some other facts and thoughts on the Bearcats:
• What I do like about this team is their depth. PV had a lot of players last year gain time on Friday nights, and that will go a long way this season.
• With that depth and all the injuries suffered last season, PV has 19 returning lettermen from a season ago.
• Watch out for Hayden Lambert on the defensive line. He's a four-year varsity starter and has a good size at 6-3, 295. He's a class leader on this team, and from the chat I had with him, the tradition of Bearcat football means a lot to him.
• PV lost three-time All-Scioto Valley Conference punter Garett Tyree to graduation. (He missed a majority of last season due to injury).
• PV returns a good quarterback and running back combo. Eli Barker returns at QB for his senior season, and sophomore Mark Clifford returns from his standout start during his freshman season.
• Quote from the coach
"Without a doubt, we started on Jan. 3rd on our offseason program. Our main protocol was to get stronger, and to get a little more nasty. When you give up 32 points a game, I don't care how good your offense is, you are going to struggle." — Pete Hollon, PV head coach, on the offseason work for the defense.
• (Another) Quote from the coach
"We are ready to roll. We don't like losing here … coaches, players, everybody as a unit has to come together and be a little bit better." — Pete Hollon, PV head coach, on the upcoming season.
Since I started covering the Bearcats a few years ago, I've always enjoyed my time watching the team. It is always good to go back there and just see how the team is progressing from the offseason, and I'm looking forward to watching them play this season.
I'm excited for this team as they work their way to the goals they have set for themselves.
Monday morning I will post my weekly Not off the Press column. Also on Monday, I have a two-a-day of my own as I will be visiting the fotball camps of McClain and Hillsboro.
Remember to get a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press high school football preview that will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]
Last season during one of their two-a-day practices, I wrote in detail about the Bearcats (who went 2-8 last year) and what their program goes on during one of those practices.
Being one of the media outlets that covers the Bearcats in great detail with complete game coverage and game previews throughout the season, one thing I know about the Paint Valley program is that they are dedicated, and they will put in the necessary hard work to overcome their two-win season from last year.
One thing PV must overcome is the dreaded injury bug which hampered last season like no other. Another thing PV head coach Pete Hollon said is the defense MUST perform much better than a season ago.
Did you realize the Bearcats allowed 32.2 points per game last year?
From what I figure, one big point from last season was players on the '11 team now have varsity game experience, which should knock away a lot of the unknown at the start of the season. A majority of the players have playing time at the varsity level, and from the ones I spoke with, they really want to help be the starting point of bringing back the football tradition of PV. (The Bearcats' last playoff appearance was in 2003.)
Two other aspects of the game Coach Hollon said they must have happen to be a success this year is to play solid in their early season schedule and to improve on their turnover ratio, which ended at -14 last year. Late in the season, the Bearcats did start to build on that aspect of their game because at one point a season ago it was at -27 (or close to that).
Here are some other facts and thoughts on the Bearcats:
• What I do like about this team is their depth. PV had a lot of players last year gain time on Friday nights, and that will go a long way this season.
• With that depth and all the injuries suffered last season, PV has 19 returning lettermen from a season ago.
• Watch out for Hayden Lambert on the defensive line. He's a four-year varsity starter and has a good size at 6-3, 295. He's a class leader on this team, and from the chat I had with him, the tradition of Bearcat football means a lot to him.
• PV lost three-time All-Scioto Valley Conference punter Garett Tyree to graduation. (He missed a majority of last season due to injury).
• PV returns a good quarterback and running back combo. Eli Barker returns at QB for his senior season, and sophomore Mark Clifford returns from his standout start during his freshman season.
• Quote from the coach
"Without a doubt, we started on Jan. 3rd on our offseason program. Our main protocol was to get stronger, and to get a little more nasty. When you give up 32 points a game, I don't care how good your offense is, you are going to struggle." — Pete Hollon, PV head coach, on the offseason work for the defense.
• (Another) Quote from the coach
"We are ready to roll. We don't like losing here … coaches, players, everybody as a unit has to come together and be a little bit better." — Pete Hollon, PV head coach, on the upcoming season.
Since I started covering the Bearcats a few years ago, I've always enjoyed my time watching the team. It is always good to go back there and just see how the team is progressing from the offseason, and I'm looking forward to watching them play this season.
I'm excited for this team as they work their way to the goals they have set for themselves.
Monday morning I will post my weekly Not off the Press column. Also on Monday, I have a two-a-day of my own as I will be visiting the fotball camps of McClain and Hillsboro.
Remember to get a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press high school football preview that will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]