FB: Joaquin Rams Season Preview
There is usually no ideal time for a school to move up in ranks from one classification to the next, but the task ahead is always harder when a squad is forced to replace a large number of starters from the year before.
That might be the worst nightmare this season for the Joaquin Rams, but last year's Class 1A D-I semifinalists are taking it as a challenge when they move into one of the toughest Class 2A D-II districts in the state this fall.
Joaquin will return just three offensive and three defensive starters from 2009 when it gets set to battle in District 10-2A D-II. The Rams left a district with the likes of 1A powerhouses Tenaha and Mount Enterprise and join up with a pair of Class 2A Top 5 teams in Arp and West Rusk this fall.
Arp was 12-1 last season, advancing to the Class 2A D-I Regional Finals and brings back five offensive and four defensive players. The Tigers begin 2010 ranked No.3 by Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine and are No.2 by the magazine's Coach's Poll. West Rusk was 8-3 last season and return nine offensive and eight defensive players back from a D-II Area finalist squad. The Raiders are ranked No.2 by the magazine and No.6 by the coaches.
With all that in mind, and another formidable league opponent in Frankston (5/8 starters return off a 5-5 team), the Rams won't have much time to rebuild their program if they want to extend the streak of eight straight trips to the postseason under Head Coach Wayne Gandy.
"We have good numbers out this season, but we're young and inexperienced," Gandy stated. "We've got to do a lot of growing up in a hurry and we've got to find who wants to play, because it's not going to be an easy road.
"But it's a big challenge for us and we're excited about it. People don't expect us to do much, so we're using that as an incentive to see what we can prove."
OFFENSE
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams return its two tackles, Austin Underbrink (6-2, 260) and Chase Lambright (250 lb.). Both players were All-District 19-1A a year ago and will be counted on heavily in the run-favored double-wing offense run by Gandy.
The rest of the line will be made up of a pair of sophomores and a freshman most likely, forcing players to 'grow up' in a hurry.
It's no secret that Joaquin runs an offense that relies heavily on the run. Last year 96.3% of the team's offense was made up of the 4,820 rushing yards. But gone from that team are running backs Jeffrey Rico (2,081 yards, 17 TDs), Shane Taylor (946 yards, 14 TDs) and quarterback Cole Leflett (767 yards, 17 TDs), which accounted for 3,794 yards and 48 touchdowns from the 11-3 team.
"Our offensive scheme is simple and it's physical," Gandy explained. "It's the type of offense that these kids have played since they were eight- and nine-years old when they were in little league.
"We play a physical game and the majority of our wins come when we beat people down. We try to wear you out and then take advantage of that late in the game and we're going to have to continue to do that with this young team.
"Our blocking technique starts with what we call the 'first step' - we work on it every day in practice because it's so critical of our success. We also down block so we hit people at a 30-degree angle so we can move people around that are bigger than we are."
The Ram offense will be under the direction of sophomore Will Vaughn this season. Vaughn was a running back on the JV as a freshman. Also returning is Austin Bloodgood, who ran for 527 yards and four touchdowns in a reserve roll on the varsity. Bloodgood averaged a whopping 8.4-yards per carry. And blocking for Bloodgood will be senior Tyler McSwain, who ran for 262 yards and five scores from his fullback spot.
DEFENSE
Joaquin doesn't have a lot of 'beef' back on defense either, but the Rams are led by McSwain, an all-state linebacker. He was second on the team in tackles in 2009, recording 133 stops, with 83 of those being solos.
"McSwain is a good kid and a great football player and we're so excited to have him back this fall," Gandy praised. "He will definitely lead our defense."
Other players that could help shore up the JHS defense are defensive back JaDerrick Norris (5-10, 190), who posted six interceptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns, which went along with 57 tackles. Holden Cummings had 23 tackles in a reserve role and should help the defensive line play.
One thing the Rams have going for them is a large amount of team unity. Gandy says the junior, sophomore and a few freshmen have some very strong friendships away from the field. He said with some leadership of the seniors on this year's team a ninth straight playoff trip could be in the team's future.