Following a disappointing homecoming loss final Friday to Heber Springs, Stuttgart should rebound for his or her annual rivalry matchup towards Lonoke.
“It is a large recreation yearly,” stated Stuttgart’s Coach Josh Value.
The Jackrabbits enter the sport on the finish of a disappointing season. Picked by league coaches to complete second within the 4A-2, Lonoke is in peril of lacking the playoffs with a loss to Stuttgart.
“We should get able to play a crew preventing for his or her playoff lives,” stated Value.
Lonoke is 3-5 general and 2-3 in league play. They’ve misplaced two in a row, together with a 27-7 residence forfeit loss to Bald Knob final week.
“Bald Knob was forward 27-7 within the third quarter towards Bald Knob, and I suppose somebody known as in a bomb menace to the college,” stated Value. “They evacuated the sector after which determined to not resume the sport.”
This Friday’s recreation is the Jackrabbits’ ultimate convention recreation of the season.
Rebounding from final week
A excessive precedence for Stuttgart’s coaches and gamers isn’t letting final week’s loss to Heber Springs have an effect on them this week.
“It’s so vital for us to return out early and have success,” stated Value. “We are able to’t let final week have an effect on us.”
Stuttgart misplaced to Heber Springs 29-28 following a profitable two-point conversion with 1:11 remaining in regulation.
Through the recreation, Stuttgart struggled to win their one-on-one battles, which is one thing that Value stated Heber Springs’ offense makes groups do.
“The way in which they line up, all the pieces is at all times balanced. They’ve a hat on a hat, so it comes right down to successful the one-on-one battles and we misplaced greater than we gained.”
Blocking focus this week
Value stated that his crew carried out very poorly in each cross blocking and run blocking towards the Panthers. Stuttgart averaged simply 3.1 yards per carry and allowed 5 sacks.
“Our blocking is terrible throughout the board,” he stated. “We’re taking zero pleasure in blocking and I’m uninterested in speaking about it. We’ll rotate linemen this week on each collection,”
Whereas linemen get the eye, Value stated his backs and receivers have additionally been poor blockers all 12 months.
“Till our guys have the mentality that their man isn’t going to make the sort out, we’re going to proceed to be poor at blocking.”
“Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback”
One participant has acquired the lion’s share of the eye this week. That participant is Jackrabbits quarterback, No. 7 Braden Allen.
A two-year starter, Allen is the focus of Lonoke’s offense and the focus of Stuttgart’s scouting report this week.
“He’s a very good participant for them,” stated Value. “He’s large, he’s quick, and he can throw it a rustic mile. He’s a very good runner they usually actually run him.”
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 kilos, Allen has carried the ball greater than 20 instances every week of the season. When the senior does throw, it’s typically to No. 10 Denham Gooden and No. 3 Tanner Starks.
“He’s undervalued as a thrower,” stated Value. “Truthfully, he’s essentially the most harmful when he begins scrambling after which he sees a man down the sector for an enormous play.”
1,000,000 formations
When requested what Lonoke tries to try this may trigger his crew points, Value was fast to reply.
“They get in one million formations, particularly to start the sport,” he stated. “It’s actually vital that we get lined up appropriately and never give them low cost factors or low cost yards just because we’re within the unsuitable alignment.”
Value additionally identified the significance of his line of defense this week.
“Our linemen should get off blocks and assist get the QB on the bottom. He’s so large, we’re going to wish these large guys up entrance to assist the linebackers.”
Transferring on up
The junior excessive season involves an finish on Thursday night time when Stuttgart travels to Lonoke for the defacto convention title recreation. As soon as that’s completed, Value plans to deliver all of his freshmen as much as the varsity degree.
Because of this, Stuttgart’s sideline may look extra akin to a school sideline. As of this writing, 84 gamers dotted the senior varsity roster with the inclusion of 24 freshmen.
A number of of these freshmen are anticipated to contribute.
“We’ll deliver all of them up this week,” stated Value. “Braylon Tolliver (carrying No. 24 this week) will most likely play somewhat bit at fullback and linebacker and Keaton Byers (carrying No. 22 this week) may get a number of snaps at receiver. Possibly a number of extra gamers on particular groups.”
Particular groups
Value was essential of his particular groups’ play from every week in the past.
“We acquired a point-after try blocked, kicked to No. 27 thrice, and grabbed a facemask,” he stated. “In shut video games, particular groups are essential.”
The Ricebirds count on to see these errors corrected this week. Particular groups play has been a vivid spot for a lot of the season.
“We’ve acquired to get higher, and we are going to. We should dominate all points of particular groups play.”
Accidents
The damage report is brief, however it’s probably important.
Jawyan Terry stays out this week from an damage suffered within the first quarter towards Warren whereas Tank Hood can also be questionable this week.
“Terry goes to the physician this Friday, so possibly he’ll get launched for subsequent week,” stated Value. “Tank (Hood) goes to the physician this week to have his hand checked out.”
Other than that, Value didn’t supply any extra info in regards to the bodily well being of his crew.
How you can watch and pay attention
Followers can hear the game-day broadcast starting with the Brothers Realty Ricebirds Coaches Present at 6 p.m., adopted at 6:30 p.m. by the Freemyer’s Greatest Manufacturers Plus Pre-Sport Present main into the 7 p.m. kickoff on Nation 97.3 KDEW FM.
New this 12 months, the Ricebirds’ and 17 different excessive colleges’ audio and video streams may be accessed on smartphones or tablets by way of the just-launched EAB Media Group app, accessible for obtain on the App Retailer and Google Play or by clicking right here. For desktop entry, click on right here.
The audio may be streamed straight at www.country973.com or by clicking right here. The dwell video stream may be watched on the EAB Sports activities Community Stuttgart Ricebirds YouTube channel.
An entire recreation recap will likely be accessible in Monday’s version of the Stuttgart Every day Chief.
