Webbers Falls wins at Oaks Mission

Set to play Cave Springs Thursday

JIM CAMERON SPORTS WRITER

OAKS – Webbers Falls never fell behind on the road Friday night versus Class C Oaks-Mission enroute to a 46-16 nondistrict win. Webbers Falls head coach Trent Holt‚s plan going into the game against Oaks was to stop the Oaks-Mission offense from running the football, which proved effective and forced Oaks to instead rely on its passing game.

“[Oaks] typically ran the ball really well in the games we saw them play on film, and we stopped their running game,” Holt said. “They had to pass it on us, and they completed a few passes. Their first touchdown was on the first string. We were close, we might‚ve even touched the ball on the pass that they completed, but they ended up scoring.”

Holt was surprised that Oaks (3-1) scored so easily against the Warriors‚ first-string secondary.

“We‚ve just gotta do a much better job. I never really felt like they could score enough to beat us, ’cause I didn‚t think they could stop us. Our offense has been playing pretty well. We‚ll see in a couple of weeks once we get into district how good we are.”

The keys to Webbers Falls‚ victory came down to its offensive line outplaying Oaks‚ defense, making holes that the Warriors‚ running backs were able to use, and the effectiveness of quarterback Shelby Maddux and his keen ability to make plays on the run.

“We worked the whole time, they‚re a pretty good football team, especially for a Class C team,” Holt said. “I just thought that if we went up there and played our game, then they‚d have trouble beating us.”

Week over week, Webbers Falls (3-1) is getting better, but there are always areas where the Warriors can still improve. During practice, the Warriors‚ special teams worked to improve their onside kick recoveries, which have been an Achilles heel this season.

“They didn‚t try any onsides kicks. We worked on it, but, fortunately, they didn‚t try any. I woulda tried every time we play us. I woulda kicked it until we figure out how to miss one.”

The offense was led by Shelby, who was 2 of 5 for 30 yards through the air and 174 yards rushing with four touchdowns and three two-point conversions. Isaiah Terrell ran nine times for 92 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards, as well as a touchdown. Blaize Herriman had four carries for 84 yards and a touchdown.

The leading defensive players for Webbers Falls were Shelby with three tackles and eight assists, Terrell with three tackles and six assists, and Caden Dishman with two tackles and four assists.

Looking ahead to Thursday‚s game versus Cave Springs, Holt knows the Warriors will need to be prepared and show up ready to play. The Hornets are led this year by first-year head coach Mike Burge, who brings 36 years of experience with him to Cave Springs.

“Their quarterback is pretty good,” Holt said. “He can run the ball, and he‚s got some big ol‚ linemen. He‚s a better runner than passer. I don‚t think they‚re a real big threat to throw the ball – now they probably can run it. They‚re pretty good-sized, but they look pretty basic. We didn‚t see but about two or three formations and two or three running plays.”

Burge plans to implement his signature wing-T offensive philosophy at Cave Springs, installing an offensive scheme that utilizes a 70-30 run/pass balance.

The Hornets‚ offense will rely on Jason Drain taking the lead and Isaiah Sam at running back to move the ball. The Hornets plan to run a 3-2 base defense, and will look to lineman Kelby Sam to put pressure on the quarterback, and in the secondary, linebackers Colten Ladd and Cody Zimmerman will try to shut down the pass.

“Cave has a new coach and they‚ve got some big kids. We‚ve watched them on film a little bit, and we‚re going to have to go up there and play, ‚cause if we don‚t. we‚re going to end up losing,” Holt said. “You can‚t turn the ball over a bunch of times, have a bunch of penalties and that type of thing or we‚ll end up getting beat by a team that you shouldn‚t have.”

The Warriors have simplified their gameplan to focus on what they do best this year, and with the exception of their passing game, they are where Holt expects to be.

“We‚ve still gotta throw the ball better. The offensive line is playing well, but we still miss a few blocks. Overall, I‚m happy with where we‚re at. We‚re coming off the ball, we‚re usually executing pretty well, we‚re not really confused about who to block. I think the other night they stopped us one time – we threw a screen pass that, if we catch it, that‚s a touchdown. We‚ve gotta throw the ball better.

“I think that if we play well, then we‚ve got an excellent shot to beat Cave. But we‚ve still gotta go play the game.”