By Malcolm Butler
Control the controllables.
That has been the message from Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine this week to his Cougar football team as they prepare for the regular season finale tonight at Jonesboro Hodge.
Cedar Creek (6-3, 4-1) currently sits No. 17 in the power ratings in Select School Division IV. The top 24 earn a postseason berth with seeds 9 thru 16 earning a first round home playoff game.
Thus, the Cougars have an opportunity to possibly move up and play at home next week in the opening round of the postseason.
“There are some things that will have to happen in other games around the state,” said Angevine. “If we don’t win, there is no way we will host a first round game. But if we win, it gives us a shot at it for sure.”
One thing that Angevine knows is all the Cougars can do is play their brand of football and try to pick up win No. 7 on the season.
“That’s been the message all week,” said Angevine.
Having won three of its last four games, including three blowouts, the Cougars enter Caldwell-Peacock Stadium a confident bunch.
“Our practices have been solid this week,” said Angevine. “The vibe around practice has been really good. Everybody knows what is at stake. We don’t have to get on their butts and motivate them. We don’t have to yell and scream.
“This is a young group, but they are all bought in. They know what this game means. It’s been a really good week of practice for sure.”
Jonesboro-Hodge (6-3, 4-1) has won three straight and six of its last seven games after starting the season with losses to Winnfield and West Ouachita. After falling behind Glenbrook 14-0 last week, the Tigers rallied for an 18-14 victory.
The Tigers are No. 9 in the power ratings in the Non-Select School Division IV rankings.
“Offensively, they are good,” said Angevine. “Dakota Knox can play quarterback for them. He plays running back for them at times. And he is just really, really good.”
Creek has won with a running attack that features a three-headed monster with Brett Bell, Trigger Woodard and Payton Harris. Angevine expects Friday’s opponent to sell out to stop the run.
“Defensively, they fly around to the football,” said Angevine. “Against us they will probably give us a 6-2 look with one or two backers in the box to stop our run game. We just need to stay disciplined and play our rules on the offensive line. We just need to play the physical brand of football that we have been playing.”
The contest can be heard on 99.3 FM with Ray Creasy and Ben Haddox providing a call of the game.
