Westmoore: Southmoore speed a challenge...

By Justin Hite

Westmoore: Getting ready for speed

In its first day of work, Westmoore spent the majority of practice getting ready for Southmoore’s offense. But they took a unique approach. They ran two different scout-team offenses against the Jaguars’ first-team defense.

By doing that, coach Billy Langford hoped his team would be ready for the fast-paced, no-huddle offense of the SaberCats. There are plenty of other ways to keep an offense off the field. Westmoore could try and control the ball and keep it away from Southmoore.

Langford that will happen Friday night.

“It’s going to be a challenge for our defensive guys,” he said. “Hopefully, offensively we can control the ball a little bit and give our defensive guys some breaks. That’s how we are going to combat it: Try to control the ball ourselves offensively and not have to put our defense out there every three plays.”

I asked Westmoore senior linebacker Cody Cates what it’s like dealing with such dynamic playmakers in a fast offense.

“I think if we keep them contained and on the inside then we’ll be alright. But if he gets on the edge, obviously it’s going to be a problem.”

But, which one Cody?

“Both.”

Southmoore running back Andrew Long and quarterback Kendal Thompson are both dynamic playmakers, who can, to say the least, make plays anywhere on the field. And it only takes one seam for a big play to be made.

“We have to get lined up right every time and get all the calls every single snap,” Langford said. “Because it only takes once out of alignment and one missed called and they are playing their fight song.”