Friday, Sep. 19, 2008

Marcus Faces Test Vs. Struggling Katy

MHS Football

By Kevin Lonnquist

Staff Writer

After one third of the season, Marcus coach Bryan Erwin can easily identify where his team is strong and suspect.

When it comes to the running game, his offense couldn’t move it any better, and his defense couldn’t shut it down any better.

Offensively, the Marauders are averaging 285 yards per game (855 for the season), led by junior tailback Stephen Hopkins’ 498. Defensively, the Marauders are yielding just 85 yards per game. Teams are averaging less than four yards per carry.

"I like the way we are running it and creating holes to get the plays we need," Erwin said. "And people aren’t able to do very much against us."

When it comes to the passing game, it has become a source of frustration. The Marauders are averaging 96 yards per game but are surrendering 210 yards per game (630 for the season, but 344 came against Keller Fossil Ridge).

But the Marauders defense is also struggling on third down. Opponents are converting more than 50 percent on that momentum-swinging down.

"We’ve not nearly been effective, and we’re giving up way too many big plays," Erwin said. "There are some sloppy things that we have to clean up, because we can’t keep going like this. The other thing we’ve got to do is put more pressure on the passer."

There could be some position changes. Tyler Epps became the new left cornerback last week, but Erwin hinted that there could be more changes in the secondary before Saturday’s game against Katy.

Injury Front

One big target missing from the passing game has been senior Joel Free. Free has missed most of the last two games against Plano West and Keller Fossil Ridge because of an illness.

Against Fossil Ridge, he was limited to punting. Erwin is hopeful Free will be at full strength Saturday against Katy. If he can, that gives the Marauders their big-play threat in the passing game.

However, running back Degan Newsome is not expected to play the final two games of the non-district season because of an undisclosed injury.

Checking on LaMarque

Erwin said he checked on countless friends and colleagues who went through the brunt of Hurricane Ike last week. Fortunately, Erwin said all of them came through fine.

"Everything was good except for some structural damage, but the town came away unscaved," said the former LaMarque coach. "It is such a relief to know that everybody you know came away OK."

Notable

Stephen Hopkins’ 208-yard performance last Friday was the second 200-yard game of his career. However, he has three fumbles in the last two games.

"He’s not a fumbler," Erwin said. "But he’s just going to have to be more aware of people that he can’t see who are going to try and punch the ball out."