Webbers Falls starts with uphill battle vs. Regent Prep
Webbers Falls starts with uphill battle vs. Regent Prep News Staff Thu, 08/25/2022 - 19:27
JIM CAMERON SPORTS WRITER
Webbers Falls travels to Tulsa tonight for a 7 p.m. game against Regent Prep in a non-district match against the highranked Class B school. This is the first time the Warriors will play the Rams, who finished the season 9-3 last year. The Rams lost, 58-46, to Summit Christian Academy in the second round of the playoffs, which ended their postseason run.
“This isn‚t the best matchup for us, but if we want to be ready for our district games, we need to prepare by playing some tough teams early,” Warriors head coach Trent Holt says.
Holt is going to have to rely on his third-year starting quarterback, Maddux Shelby, to read the defense and make plays with the running backs out of the I-formation. Shelby can run and has experience throwing the ball as well, but Holt has indicated he intends to give his big running backs the football this year.
SEE WEBBERS FALLS, PAGE A9 The Warriors will be counting on senior leaders Caden Dishman and Chandler Long to step up and show the players how to act under pressure.
Dishman, a big tight end/defensive end, will have his hands full stopping the defense from getting through to Shelby, as well as getting open for the pass. Long will be leading the way on the offensive line at center, getting the ball to Shelby and blocking to open up the run game as well.
Regent Prep is not only a consistent top-ranked Class B school, the Rams have made it to the playoffs every season since 2016.
The Rams have six returning starters on offense, including quarterback John Mark Roller leading their aggressive offense. Over the last five seasons, the Rams averaged more than 52 points per game, punting once during that time.
Regent is a team known to pass the football practically anywhere at any time. However the Rams did rush for almost 500 yards in their first-round playoff win last season.
For the Warriors, this will be a test of their mettle early this year. This matchup will give the coaches a chance to see where the Warriors need to improve early this season, as well as an idea of what is working.
The coaches will make use of that knowledge in practice to adjust and build a more complete offense, while shoring up any defensive gaps that might be revealed.
Starting with a tough non-district team like Regent Prep, which is sixth in the Tulsa World‚s preseason rankings, maximizes the effects of experience as well as pre-season training, since it brings to light areas that need improvement while there is still time to adjust before district matches begin.