By Malcolm Butler
William Parkerson knows the Cedar Creek football program is far from where he ultimately wants it to be – representing the school deep into the Select School Division IV playoffs.
Maybe even an eventual trip to the Caesars Superdome for a state title game appearance one day.
However, the first year Cougars boss feels his inaugural season back at the school where he once served as an assistant coach was a productive one for the program.
If nothing else, it was the beginning of an established mindset for Cedar Creek.
“Win or lose, we competed during the regular season,” said Parkerson, whose team went 4-6 with a loss Catholic Point Coupe in the first round of the playoffs. “We never backed down from a fight. We probably maximized what we had to be honest. Our kids just competed.”
After starting the season 0-3 with close one-possession losses to Glenbrook and Vidalia, Parkerson and Co. reeled off wins in four of its next five games — with the one loss coming to OCS.
Aspects of understanding scheme and execution improved through the course of three months of football, something that wasn’t easy at times on the offensive side of the ball with a complete change in offensive style. The Cougars went from a spread, pass-heavy style at times the previous two years to a flex-bone run-heavy scheme in 2023.
At times there were glimpses of the future, but the Cougars never could find the consistency needed on that side of the football. The loss of starting center Brett Johnson for the first four games of the season stunted the growth early.
“It just never seemed to click offensively,” said Parkerson. “I thought we were going to be a little better on that side of the ball then we were. I didn’t think coming in we would (struggle as much) with the offensive change. I didn’t think it would be an issue. Maybe it was a bigger issue than I thought it would be.
“This offense is made for this school with the type of kids we have year in and year out. We are always going to have more running back-type kids than we are receivers. We are generally going to be average to above average to great up front depending on the year. This offense is made for a school like this so hopefully we more understanding and more reps it will get better.”
Creek will graduate starting QB Ladd Thompson, RB Gray Worthey, WR Lawson Lillo, center Brett Johnson and others on the offensive unit. However, Parkerson said he is more focused on the continued change of mentality.
“It has to continue to get better,” Parkerson said. “That is part of changing the mindset too. I don’t care if we are playing the Dallas Cowboys and you want to put all 11 guys on the line of scrimmage, we are going to stick our face mask in your chest and run the football down your throat. We have to get to where we embrace that aspect of it.”
Soon-to-be-sophomore Kade Luker will most likely take over at quarterback for the Cougars and with three years of eligibility remaining will give Cedar Creek some stability at the position.
“Kade showed in practice that he grasped what we were doing offensively,” said Parkerson. “Mentally, he just got it. I’m excited to see him next year.”
Parkerson said he and his offensive staff will attend a flex bone coaching clinic in Dallas in February, something he has done for a number of years. He also said they would be watching a lot of film.
“Diving in and watching a lot of film,” said Parkerson. “How did people play us this year. It seems like year to year there is a flavor of the month for defending the option. How many weeks did we see these fronts? What were they doing that gave us problems? So we can have answers for next year.”
Defensively, the Cougars continued to have success under veteran DC Mark Ware. It was an easier transition on that side of the football in 2023 with the continuity provided by Ware.
The Cougars recorded three shutouts and held all but three opponents to 22 points or less in 2023. However, that side of the football will have to replace a lot of key contributors as well.
Thus, Parkerson will lean heavily on the likes of Alex Simpson, James Myers, Blake Robinson, Conner Rolen and others.
“We will return four of five offensive linemen and two of four defensive linemen,” said Parkerson. “I always say it starts up front and having that many linemen on both sides of the ball with that type of experience is promising. Hopefully, those guys can set the tone for the type of physicality we want to play with … the nastiness I want us to play with. Hopefully they will play tough, nasty football.”
Maybe the biggest challenge in the off-season and heading into next season will be to increase roster size. This year’s Cougar squad stayed in the range of 26 to 28 players during the majority of the year and Parkerson said that number needs to get closer to 40.
“I told the players, the best recruiters will be them,” Parkerson said. “Them telling their friends they are having fun. Them asking and encouraging them to come out and play football will go way further than me or any other coach doing it.
“Those guys need to be the ones in the hallways encouraging their classmates to come out; encouraging those guys that just play basketball or just play baseball to give football a try. I told them their goal was for everybody to bring a friend next year.”
Creek loses eight to graduation but the incoming eighth grade class that will be freshmen next year is around 14 or 15, some that will already provide the Cougars an increase in itself.
“I would love to be somewhere between 35 and 40,” said Parkerson. “If we can get to that number hopefully not as many kids would have to play every snap on offense, defense and special teams. Practice would go way smoother.
“Hopefully we can get to where we have enough bodies that we can do more drills and not wear people out. That’s something that stood out in our playoff game … for the first time this year I thought we looked like a tired football team (in our playoff loss).”
With an increase in roster size, a second year in the Parkerson system, and a continued improvement in mentality and execution, Creek hopes to take another step in 2024.
“I told them when we got here that I want people when they play us to turn on the film and say, ‘Oh my gosh, we aren’t going to be able to match their intensity, their effort, and their physicality,'” said Parkerson. “Did we ever get to that point this year? No. But I thought as the year went on we started playing more and more like that. Can we take another step with that?
“I don’t care if they turn on the tape and say, ‘Man these guys are good, they are big, they are fast.’ I could care less. I want people to turn on the film and say, ‘Oh my God. Nobody plays as hard as them. Nobody plays as intense as them. Nobody plays as physical as them.’ If we can get to that point, we can make a big jump.”
