by Malcolm Butler
No. 1 ranked Ruston defeated No. 2 ranked Stephenville 63-17 Saturday at Lobo Stadium in Longview, extending the Bearcats winning streak to 19 games. Below are some notes from the contest.
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Bearcat Blowout: As Jerrod Baugh watched film on Stephenville leading up to the game, the Bearcat Boss said he never saw such a lopsided win coming for the Bearcats.
“I expected a good ball game,” said Baugh. “Really. Those guys had taken it to the people that they had played. Scored a bunch of points. I think our guys played pretty well. I will have to go back and watch film and see how it all played out. I’m just really pleased with the competition level. I think our schedule leading up to this ball game indicates the difference. I think (Stephenville) maybe had played some weaker teams leading into this ball game, and maybe weren’t really ready for the level of competition. But our guys were. We executed for the most part and played well.”
O-Line controls the line: The Ruston High offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage during Saturday’s ball game, helping the Bearcats rush for 291 yards and pass for another 251 yards. Ruston ran the ball 40 times and had only one negative rushing play (-1 yard) in the entire game. The Bearcat running backs consistently picked up 3 to 4 yards before contact throughout the game. Josh Brantley dropped back to pass 12 times and was never sacked.
“Our experience is what we talked about at the very beginning that we were going to have to lean on, while the guys who didn’t have any experience were gaining experience” said Baugh. “I think they have moved along pretty quickly. We have shuffled around a bunch of offensive linemen whether it be due to injuries or sickness or whatever the case is. So, a lot of guys have played. That’s not really how you want it to happen, but whenever you are having to do that, it ends up being a really good thing for you because you are playing a lot of guys and getting some experience. And then you feel comfortable anytime you have to sub one for whatever reason it may be.”
Clean non-district slate: Despite a tough non-district schedule, Ruston High is a perfect 5-0 heading into District 2-5A action this weekend at Ouachita. The Bearcats have played only one one-score contest (35-27 win over Acadiana in opener) and have been dominate in the other four victories.
“It’s been very productive,” said Baugh about the non-district schedule. “Whenever you are playing some really good competition, it puts a magnifying glass on the things that you need to do to continue to improve. And we stay on our guys about that regardless of whether we come away with more points on the scoreboard or not. It’s something that we will continue to do. We just have to keep working at it and getting better. The score is not always going to get out of whack like this. We won’t always make those big plays sometimes, and it will turn into a fight. We have to be able to manage that too.”
Anding’s Hand: Senior all-state cornerback Aidan Anding injured his left hand during Stephenville’s 36-yard TD pass in the second quarter. Anding came off the field holding his left hand and continued to shake it and sought out Ruston athletic trainer Chris Brister on the sideline. The Ruston coaches actually held Anding out of a punt return opportunity just minutes later (which led to a muffed punt) before he eventually returned to record both an interception and a kick return for a score.
“I need to get with Coach Brister and see what the deal is,” said Baugh. “I know it was bothering him some, but I don’t know exactly what that situation is. He knows we need him out there. Of course we are not going to stick him out there if he is that bad off. If there is any way for him to be out there, he wants to be out there. And he is going to do what he can to make plays.”
Brantley Grounded: Ruston QB Josh Brantley is normally pounding people on the ground with his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame. However, on Saturday against Stephenville, the senior only ran three times for seven yards while completing 9-of-12 passes for a career-high 251 yards and three scores. According to Baugh, it was by design.
“We didn’t have to run him very much today,” said Baugh. “I think that was a good thing to give his legs a little bit of a break and heal up his toe and his ankle. We know there is going to be times where we have to have him make some plays with his legs. He extended some plays today. He got pushed out of the pocket today and made some really good throws that extended some drives. That’s where I think he has come a long ways at being a quarterback.”
Punt Problem: On Ruston’s opening offensive possession of the ball game, the Bearcats faced a fourth down around midfield and lined up as it they were going to go for it. However, Brantley — in the shotgun formation — was supposed to take the snap and punt it away. The Stephenville defense broke through and blocked the punt, giving the Yellow Jackets the football on Ruston side’s of the field.
“We didn’t handle it up front,” said Baugh. “They had them a good plan to come after it. They obviously watched video and had them a plan to come after it. We just didn’t handle it very good. We probably should have had a running back in the backfield instead of being in empty formation. We talked about that. If we did it again, we were probably going to change that up. We like to use that on the plus end of the field. It’s doesn’t allow (the opponent) to put a returner back there. (Tristian Gentry) was the guy they were trying to get the ball to and we wanted to keep it away from him obviously. That was our thinking behind it.”
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