| Yellowjackets show steady improvements |
By: Stephanie Sturgis - Weakley County Press Sports Editor
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Posted: Friday, August 6, 2010 10:42 am
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Fumble— Yellowjacket defender Blake Robertson blasted through the line and collared the Middleton quarterback to forced a fumble in Greenfield’s first scrimmage win last Friday night. In scrimmage action against Gibson County on Tuesday evening, Chance Black repeatedly found his way into the Pioneer backfield in the Jackets’ 26-6 win. Photo by Stephanie Sturgis
Progress was the key word for Greenfield Yellowjackets head coach Jason Rodehaver after his team’s 26-6 scrimmage win over host Gibson County Tuesday night in Dyer.
“I was excited to see progress. We’re not where we want to be yet, but I’m pleased we’re moving in the right direction,” Rodehaver noted.
The Jackets were coming off a two-touchdowns-to-none victory over Middleton last Friday night.
Using the down-and-distance format, the Jackets had four possessions and put together four 70-yard scoring drives.
Greenfield was playing without Kadeem McDonald — one of the two-way standouts from last week’s scrimmage.
“He didn’t play a down because of his knee. We kept him out as a precaution,” the GHS head coach commented.
Stepping into the backfield to replace McDonald at tailback on offense was Steven Sawyers. The Jackets didn’t miss a beat, as Sawyers scored two of the four GHS touchdowns. The senior took an option pitch in for the first Greenfield score and finished the scoring by catching a screen pass from quarterback Dalton Potts and racing to the end zone.
“Stephen really stepped up and did a good job,” Rodehaver praised.
The coach also had praise for his quarterback, who tallied the third TD on a long keeper covering 50 yards.
“He made a lot of good moves all night, and he made good decisions. He had a couple of passes where he had to thread the needle and he did,” the Jacket leader said.
The second Jacket touchdown came when Brady Medling took a pitch on the option and ran 20 yards to paydirt.
“We brought Brady in motion to be the pitch man,” Rodehaver recalled.
The Jackets’ scoring came as a result of an improved effort from the offensive line — a unit that is filled with new faces.
“They gained confidence from our first scrimmage. They missed a block here and there (Tuesday night), but overall they have a better understanding of what they have to do,” Rodehaver said of his front wall.
As a whole, the Jackets’ offense kept Gibson County off balance.
“We were able to mix it up. We never had two bad plays in a row. If we didn’t gain anything or had a loss, on the next play we got all that back. We were consistent throughout,” the coach added.
Defensively, the Jackets used the bend-but-don’t-break philosophy.
Gibson County took advantage of its first drive to march the distance and score in seven plays.
“We started a little slow. We had a couple of guys playing as individuals instead of as a group. That leaves your defense susceptible,” Rodehaver commented.
After the initial Pioneer series, the Jackets’ younger defenders began to make an impact, helping to eventually slow the Gibson County offense before it could cross the goal line.
Chance Black drew raves from Rodehaver for his ability to disrupt the Pioneers on stunts.
“Even with only a few days in between, we were able to correct some of the mistakes from our first scrimmage,” the head coach said of his defense.
Greenfield’s next action will be Aug. 13 in the annual Ken-Tenn Jamboree at Fulton County High School.
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