Southwest High School

9/11/21
Complete Game Coverage: SWO - 12. Greenville Rose - 50.

Final:

JH Rose - 50. SWO - 12.

It was a lopsided loss but make no mistake.... progress was made. The scoreboard showed a 50-12 win for the Rampants, but the "Football Barometer" showed clearing skies and some rays of light appearing through the clouds for the Stallions of Southwest Onslow.

My Observations - Positives

There was positive growth in overall team attitude and outlook. Both the players and coaches had a renewed purpose and desire. Discipline and focus were apparent and will be crucial for the remainder of the season.

Re-commitment to the running game. The Stallions stuck primarily to the ground and had success (especially in the first half). Corbin Kerr and Daquan Hatchett combined for 120 yards and a TD (Kerr).

Smashmouth! In addition to the 'pop' of Hatchett and Kerr, I REALLY liked the 'boom' provided by fullbacks Marcus Lucas and Andrew Hines. Each of these guys is a L-O-A-D and consistently moved the pile for nice gains. I'd like to see a lot more from them in upcoming games.

Success in the running game opens the door for a quick strike pass and the Stallions did just that as Jr. QB Tanner Whitehead found Sr. WR Jayden Gonzalez for a 31 yard TD. The potential is there, we just have to set it up properly; and we did!

Whitehead also displayed a nice set of 'wheels' scampering around left-end on a naked bootleg for an important 4th down conversion. Perhaps we'll see more of this as an extension of the running game in weeks to come.

The SWO kick return duo of Daquan Hatchett and Donovan Strader consistenly had nice returns and were a step away from taking one to the house! It will happen at some point, so expect to see a Stallion kick return for a TD in the not-too-distant-future!

Players stepping up - Sr. Kicker AJ Hanning was injured early in the game and others stepped up to admirably fill his dual-role as kicker and punter.

Things to Work On

Cut down on the opponent's big plays. The Rampants had 7 plays of 30 yards or more. This simply cannot happen. Aside from giving up the big plays, the Stallion Defense played well overall and showed a lot of moxie by showing up bigtime on some short-yardage stops. On the bright side... Its highly unlikely we will see a team with the explosive firepower of JH Rose again for a very long time.

We can't give away yardage. This SWO team does not have the firepower to overcome negative plays; especially those that can be avoided (such as personal fouls after the play is over and delay-of-game penalties before the play begins).

Pick up the blitz. Whitehead was a sitting duck at times taking the onslaught of rushing Rampants with virtually no time to set and throw. The Rampants notched 5 sacks on the evening.

Moving Ahead

The non-conference schedule is over. Certainly, we want to win them all and certainly they all count (when it comes to playoff seeding). But guess what???? When it comes to conference play, they don't count! So we begin next week with a clean slate. Everyone is currently tied for first place including YOUR Stallions!

Let's face it... We're spoiled! This Stallion program has provided you (and me) with a lot of thrilling wins over the years. Now its time for you to provide for them.... Fill the Corral and give this team an infusion of support and motivation as conference play begins! The story isn't over.

The final chapters of the 2021 season are still to be written. What a story it would be if ALL of us (players, coaches, cheerleaders, band, boosters, students, alumni, fans, etc) found a way to come together and make a playoff run!

The choice is yours.... Grumble & complain. Or.... Turn that negative emotion into something positive and become a part of the "Great Stallion Rebirth of 2021!" The pivotal chapter begins next Friday @ 7:00pm in The Corral!

Game Story (courtesy of JD News): https://www.jdnews.com/story/sports/2021/09/10/high-school-football-jacksonville-area-week-4-roundup/5758363001/

Game Story (courtesy of Greenville Reflector): https://www.reflector.com/sports/local/high-school-football-rose-grabs-first-win-with-strong-second-half/article_0d5d4c20-2ac2-51dd-85b8-56d6a5f110c4.html

Video Highlights: https://youtu.be/2mCkl0CT93s

Photos (courtesy of Kay McCloskey): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6lug3674t5auf2b/AAC-gYCSkntRMYNikE4tstIva?dl=0

Stable Talk Postgame Analysis: https://youtu.be/PwUITa1itZc