FB: Tenaha Tigers Season Preview
It might be hard to believe that a Class 1A D-II football team that returns 13 starters off a squad that advanced three rounds deep in the playoffs a year ago and is ranked Preseason No.1 doesn't feel as much pressure to begin the 2010 campaign as it did a year ago at this time.
The Tenaha Tigers, a team that has a long tradition of great athletes and one that has won at least eight games each of the past four years, comes into the current season with as high expectations as there can be, but they are taking it all in stride as THS could possibly have the best team in Class 1A D-II the next two seasons.
But the Tigers would like to finish 2010 before they think about 2011.
Terry Ward took over the job as athletics director and head football coach after spending two seasons as an assistant under Scott Tyner, before being elevated to his current role in December of 2008. At that time Tyner announced he was going to move into an administrative position in the district because of health problems.
Having never been the head coach, Ward took it upon himself to prove what he was capable of in a leadership role at THS and led the Tigers to an undefeated regular season (10-0) and the District 19-1A championship last season.
If that wasn't enough, the Tigers came from behind to knock off perennial powerhouse Alto, 20-17, in the opening round of the Class 1A D-II playoffs, before blowing past Maud, 36-6, in Area play. Tenaha didn't have another comeback in its possession, falling short to Mart, 25-22, in the Regional Semifinals.
"One thing I learned as a first-year head coach is every week was a do-or-die," Ward said at a recent workout. "Last year I had to prove myself. The kids had to prove themselves. Every game was big last year. And although every game is big this year, our goal is to reach the playoffs. So we're on a pace that's a little slower. I don't want the kids too burnt out to play in December, which I hope we'll have the chance to do."
Coming off success and a 12-1 mark a year ago with six offensive and seven starters returning, every poll as the Tigers perched at the top as the 2010 season begins. But that isn't the prize that Ward and his players are searching for.
"The pressure is not on us," Ward continued. "I know a lot of people say, 'You're ranked No.1 so you have to win all of them.' Well, ehhh, that's not the biggest prize. I played a lot of sophomores last year, which will be juniors this year; so our No.1 ranking, honestly, might be a year early. If we can win [the state championship], that's great; we'll take it.
"We've got three teams in our district and we are playing them late in the season. We don't have to push early in the year as we did last season. I'm not taking anything away from Joaquin (Week 0 opponent) and I'd love to beat Alto and West Rusk and Garrison, I also don't want to peak too early in the season. As a coaching staff, we're going to prepare the same for each week of the season because we want to win each game. But our biggest goal is making the playoffs and then seeing how far we can go."
TENAHA DEFENSE
Unlike many teams of the past, the 2010 Tenaha Tigers will start and finish with their defense. The squad seemed to improve as the season went on in 2009, holding opponents to only 116 yards per game on the ground and 54.2 in the air for only 170.2-yards.
"I think our defense has more respect going into this season than any aspect of our team and that's different from years past," Ward insisted. "Last year anytime I'd go anywhere people would talk about [QB] Cobi [Steadman], but then quickly would talk about how talented our defense was and how they shut down high-powered teams when they had to and that's something we haven't 'hung our hat on' traditionally in the past. Even when Tenaha teams won state championships it was about getting the ball and going in and scoring more than anything.
"And these kids love playing defense, so to me it's nice when you can do something and be successful with it. High scoring games are great, but being able to shut down people or close to it is extra special."
There won't be many weak spots in the Tenaha defense in 2010. Look for the front seven to lead, with senior LB Sadara Wilson and junior LB Keitron Smith making a majority of the stops. Wilson led the Tigers with 112 tackles last year, while Smith was right behind with 108.
LaDarren Cooks was an All-State Honorable Mention defensive lineman, while Wilson and Reginald Davis were also all-state. Cooks tallied 76 tackles last season, while Davis had 71.
"We've got four defensive linemen coming back, so our front seven should be pretty solid," according to Ward. "Reginald will be back at free safety and we have to have to have a couple of guys step up for us at the cornerback spots, but I think we'll be ok there."
Senior defensive lineman Devonta Williams, who was fourth on the squad with 84 tackles a year ago, will make the stingy Tiger defense even tougher.
TENAHA OFFENSE
One of the biggest areas of question mark could turn out to be one of the smallest before it's all over and done as the Tigers look to replace All-State Honorable Mention and District 19-1A Most Valuable Player Cobi Steadman. The Tiger quarterback led the team in rushing (833 yards, 16 TDs) and passing 136-of-246-10, 23 TDs) and will be big shoes to fill.
And although he might not be the caliber of player to replace Steadman, Davis might just give Tenaha more of a weapon in the backfield, according to the coach.
"Reginald is not the quarterback that Cobi was," Ward admitted. "Cobi was a drop-back passer and Reginald is more of an all-around great athlete. He throws the ball well, but he also runs well and knows how to find the open lane.
"Last year Cobi ran the ball because he had to and when other things were falling apart or if that's what our opponent was giving us at the time. Reginald will run because we know he can be effective with it at any time, or he can throw the ball. Reginald can run on first down or whatever. It just gives us a little more of a weapon."
Ward said he considered keeping Davis at wide receiver, where he was second on the team in 2009 with 37 grabs for 839 yards and 11 touchdowns. But Davis, who was an Honorable Mention All-State at both defensive back and wide receiver, gives the offense more options because he's handling the ball every play, the coach insisted.
In 2009 Davis was the third-leading rusher on the Tenaha ballclub with 250 yards on 42 carries and six touchdowns, to go with his outstanding effort caching the football.
"If Reginald was playing at wide receiver, teams could double-team him and take him out of the offense. But with him at quarterback we're putting the ball in our best athlete's hands every play.
"Now we've got to find a couple of 'go-to' receivers; we lost a couple of good ones, but we've got some kids that can do it, but it's just a matter of them going out there and doing it.
"We're going to be sloppy [offensively] in the first couple of games and playing Joaquin in Week 0 is going to be tough. But we'll get better as the season goes on and I think we'll be in good shape when district rolls around."
Ward is counting on junior Octavius Griffith to be one of those players to step up and become a playmaker after catching nine passes for 181 yards and a score last season.
"Octavius played a lot for us last year as a sophomore," the coach stated. "He made some big catches for us in the Alto and Mart games and he should be a strong starting receiver for us. Shaquille Mitchell (junior) played defense (secondary) for us last year and didn't play offense, but we're looking for him to step in on the receiving corps."
Ward noted that young players such as junior Victor Flores, junior Jim Evans, sophomore Assuntay Cleaver and junior Demon Horton will also have to progress and becoming more of the offense.
Cooks, an All-State Honorable Mention offensive lineman, will also be the guy that will anchor the offensive front and DeAaron Roland should also make his presence known as well.
"My first five linemen are solid and I've probably got eight linemen that I can play on Friday night," Ward stated. But we're like anybody else; if can stay injury free we'll be pretty solid up front, but if we get a couple of injuries we'll get pretty average quick."
The sky appears to be the limit for this year's Tigers. Even with many of the standouts set to return for 2011, the Tigers might set the standard in 2010.