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Winless Dixie hopes to upset Blacksburg
The Lions lost an record 18 straight games before beating the Washington Redskins this past Sunday. Dixie dropped its 11th in row after a 32-21 loss to the Whitmire Wolverines. Dixie has given up 167 points this season. Dixie has only scored 43 points. But while the Hornets remained winless on the year, Dixie coach Brian Gamble said there were positives to be taken from the defeat. Dixie (0-6 overall) will look to build on last week’s relative breakout performance by its offense when it hosts Blacksburg at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Oates Stadium in its final non-region game before beginning Region 1-A play next week against Ware Shoals. “The obvious positive (from last week) is we were able to finally get some offensive productivity going, a little bit through the air and a little bit on the ground,” Gamble said. “That’s what we’ve been lacking the last couple of weeks. (Quarterback) Jordan (Hall) came in and gave us a little bit of a spark with his arm.” Hall started the season at quarterback for the Hornets, then moved to wide receiver later in the year when freshman Chandler Thompson became Dixie’s starting quarterback. After the Hornets’ first two offensive series stalled Friday, Hall moved back to quarterback with Thompson going to tight end and wide receiver. The move paid dividends for Dixie, as Hall was 10 of 15 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and the Hornets led entering the fourth quarter. “I think that was a positive with the offense,” Gamble said. “There’s still a ways to go, but that was good to see.” Blacksburg coach Mickey Moss said Dixie has been hurt by a lack of depth. They’ve also played a challenging schedule. He expects the Hornets will come out throwing against the Wildcats, especially to their backs. On defense, Moss said he’s impressed with the size of the Hornets, who will use a 5-2 scheme with little blitzing. “They have great size on defense,” Moss said. Size is a concern for Gamble, who is worried the Wildcats will dominate his team on the line of scrimmage. “I’m worried they will overpower us with their line. They will try to establish their running game and they are capable of doing it.” The outmanned Wildcats are coming off one of their best efforts of the year against Class 2A power Woodruff this past Friday. The Wildcats trailed by only two touchdowns late in the first half. “We played a good team and the kids didn’t quit,” he said. Moss said he’s pleased with the development of ninth-grade quarterback Treyvon Parker and the offensive line. “They are playing better each week,” he said. Although the Wildcats have some bumps and bruises, there is good news on the injury front as safety Raymond Ellis is expected to return for tonight’s game. GAME AT A GLANCE WILDCATS (1-4) VS. HORNETS (0-6) Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Oates Stadium Players to Watch: Blacksburg QB Treyvon Parker, RB Chase Hames, DL Alex Campbell Dixie QB Jordan Hall, MLB Alex Cann, FS Ty Hawthorne, DE Jamal Martin. The Wildcats will win - if they limit their turnovers and sustain long drives to keep the Hornet offense off the field. . The Hornets will win - if they build on their offensive performance against Whitmire and force some turnovers by the Wildcats. |
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