Southmoore: Discipline key vs. Muskogee...

By Justin Hite

Friday will be a day of firsts for Southmoore. It’ll be the SaberCats’ first long road trip — their longest of the season. It’ll be their first district game. It will also be the first time the SaberCats will have to deal with an immense amount of team speed.

Southmoore faces Muskogee this Friday at 7:30 p.m. along with a whole mess of speed.

Southmoore coach Chris Jensen emphasized each word when he said, “They are very fast.”

“Probably the most team speed that we’ve seen up to this point,” he said. “That’s one of those things you have to try and contain and try and manage. It’s important on both sides of the ball.

Jensen said the SaberCats will have to maintain their blocks offensively — to slow down pursuit — and stay in their lanes defensive — to keep the big play in front of them.

“You really have to play disciplined football,” he said.

Another way to combat speed is to run right at it. The SaberCats may have found that type of running back last week against Moore.

Jensen said this week that he was impressed with sophomore Karltrell Henderson’s running style. Henderson provided a nice change of pace from starting running back Andrew Long’s speed. Long also runs with a bit of power.

“He got in there and showed he can be a significant factor for us down the road,” Jensen said. “He’s big, he’s physical and he runs hard with the football.

There will be plenty for the SaberCats to deal with in Muskogee, not the least of which could be the second career start for quarterback Tre Edwards, who is likely in the starting lineup with Kendal Thompson still recovering from a left knee sprain.

Jensen said Edwards did “pretty well,” but there were still plenty of things he could do better.