By T. Scott Boatright
Focused speed and intensity — it’s something every football coach wants to see.
And that was a point of pleasure for Ruston High football coach Jerrod Baugh Thursday night as he watched his Bearcats dominate Byrd in a preseason scrimmage held on T.L. James Field inside L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium.
On a night that featured a controlled scrimmage followed by a timed scrimmage consisting of two 12-minute quarters, the Bearcats started strong in both, winning the timed and scored portion 33-7.
Sophomore running back Dalen Powell sparked the Bearcats in both the controlled and timed scrimmages, taking his first handoff of the night and racing 60 yards for a score before doing the same in the timed portion of the night, taking Ruston’s first snap of the offense and bouncing right before racing 64 yards download the sideline to put RHS on top 7-0.
That was something Baugh had hoped to see.
And he hopes to see the same as the Bearcats return to practice later today.
“I was really pleased with the competitiveness we showed,” Baugh said. “That’s what I challenged them with when we talked in our team meeting earlier today. I know we still have some things to iron out executionally, but I wanted to see everybody out here like they were having fun and getting after it, and I think that’s what I saw.
“But then I told them in the same breath that it also (irritates me) watching that here tonight because I don’t feel like we haven’t been getting that in practice. I know we’re not going to get a game speed deal every day in practice. I get that. But I don’t see the willingness to come out and show an attitude of working to get better. So, when I watched that tonight — we’ve got to do that on a daily basis in practice and be consistent at getting better at what we do.”
Ruston’s running backs corps of Powell, senior Jeremiah Freeman, junior Kohl Gray, senior Lander Smith, junior Davis DeMoss and sophomore Luke Forester all made solid plays on the night, as did several other RHS ballcarriers.
“We were going to roll a bunch of guys in there and I thought they’re talented and could do it,” Baugh said. “They’re all different runners in different ways, which to me is always tough defensively. It can be the same play, but it hits differently with different runners, and they all bring a little something different to the table.
“It was good to see. I know they’re all talented running backs.”
But it was Powell who seemed to be the spark plug that ignited Ruston’s offensive engine on the night as he added a 78-yard run on the first play of the second half of the scrimmage to set up a two-yard plunge to paydirt by Smith.
“I was interested to see what speed level he’s got, and he showed he’s got some breakaway speed,” Baugh said about Powell. “I don’t know how fast Byrd is, but hopefully he’s one of those guys that he’s fast enough to just outrun whoever it is whenever he needs to.
“That’s what we need at our tailback position — guys who when they get some room out there and get an opening can hurt somebody in the long run.”
DeMoss also scored twice, first on a 65-yard punt return before turning in a 36-yard touchdown run on a play that he seemed to have been down before suddenly bursting free from a gang of attempted tacklers and racing down the left sideline for a score.
Defensively, it was 5-10, 224-pound senior Ra’Keem Potts who played more like a 6-6, 300-pounder to lead the Bearcats up front.
“If you look at him, and people see him walking down the hall, he doesn’t look like much,” Baugh said. “But he absolutely gets off the ball and does some things as good as any defensive lineman that I’ve been around.
“He’s done a really good job this summer and this fall camp in developing himself into a leadership role and doing the things he needs to do consistently, and I think that’s what you’re seeing. Now he’s not an extra guy, he’s one of these guys.”
The Bearcats did all they did offensively without one of their primary weapons — junior tight end Ahmad Hudson.
“He’s got some medical things going on,” Baugh said. “He’s been dehydrated a lot. He’s been traveling all over the place, and I don’t think he’s been taking care of himself real well, so he’s still sidelined medically and until he’s been medically released, he’s not going to play.
“And no, I don’t rest — save — any of my players unless I have to. I do know what he can do, but he needs some practice, too. But I want him healthy when he gets back. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll get some news from the doctors and he’ll be fine. As hot as it’s been, you don’t want to take a chance with a kid’s health.”
