Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Monticello coach impressed with Tech’s running attack, defense
By Mike McKinney
sports@paragoulddailypress.com
This time of the year, everybody likes to analyze the offense, but tonight’s Greene County Tech-Monticello game could very well come down to defense.
The Billies, who are the No. 1 seed from the Southeast, host GCT (9-2) in a second-round playoff battle that will feature potent offenses capable of scoring many points. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
“They’re 10 points from being undefeated. That tells me a lot right there,” Monticello coach Van Paschal said of the Eagles.
Paschal’s team enters the game with an 11-0 record after cruising past Vilonia 31-0 last Friday night in the opening round. Tech, the East’s No. 3 seed, toppled Magnolia 28-24 for its first playoff win in school history.
The Billies are making their fifth playoff appearance in as many years under Paschal.
“It’s been a good five years. You’ve got to have players to be successful, in my opinion. They make it go and we just try to keep them going in the right direction and keep them focused,” Paschal said.
Monticello is a senior-laden team that reached the state semifinals in 2008 before bowing out with an 8-7 loss to Helena-West Helena.
“I think the key would be we’re playing as a team,” said Paschal, who has 27 seniors on his roster. “We don’t have any stars. We’ve got one (senior safety Brishen Matthews) that’s committed to Ole Miss. But he’s not head and shoulders above the kids I’ve seen in the past 25 years (of coaching).
“We’ve got a lot of seniors and I guess overall senior leadership has made a big difference.”
Offensively, the Billies are led by senior quarterback Joe Carmical. Against Vilonia, he had 12 carries for 126 yards and completed 7 of 11 passes for another 164 yards.
“He’s played well for us. He’s a senior. He also plays some linebacker for us,” Paschal said.
Carmical triggers the Billies’ double-wing, triple option attack.
“That’s our bread and butter. If we’re throwing (the ball), then we’re probably behind,” he said with a chuckle.
That’s been a rare occurence for the Billies this season. They’ve trailed in only one game, a 27-13 win over DeQueen in their season opener.
Since then, the Billies have piled up yardage and points with their rushing game. They wiped out Warren in the second game of season 62-32, beat Little Rock Mills 41-12 and scored 54 points on Little Rock McCellan.
Paschal said the Southeast conference is “down” this year. Still, the Billies have rolled in every game but one. The Billies’ only close game was a 12-6 win at White Hall.
“We played in some slop over there and we had (a touchdown) called back that would have put us up 17-0. We got a safety in the second half and that’s all they were going to let us have over there that night, and we ended up beating them up 12-6.
On the defensive side, the Billies have been stingy, allowing only 9.5 points per game. The MHS coach said the key defenders have been Matthews and linebackers Jordan Tilley and Ryan Shaw.
“On the defensive line, we mix and match and move them in and out so ...,” Paschal said. “Jordan Tilley is a three-year starter. He’s about 5-10 and 200. He’s not going to impress you when you see him, but he’s a three-year starter. We’re not that big. We really don’t have any standouts at all, other than being seniors and knowing the system.”
After looking at film of the Eagles, Paschal said he was impressed Tech playmakers Standrick Williams and Caleb Hartwig.
Paschal said Williams — who has rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 20 TDs this season, mostly out of Tech’s Wildcat formation — reminds him of Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster.
“(Hartwig) is a pretty good hand. (Williams), I bet a lot of (colleges) are looking at him. He’s got another gear. He can go. He’s faster than anybody we’ve got. And their quarterback (Justin Johnson), he’s a good hand too,” said Paschal.
The Billies coach his defense hasn’t seen anything “exactly like” the Wildcat formation this season. “(Williams) runs it very well. I’m very impressed. They’ve got big offensive linemen, it looks like, and (Williams) don’t need much room; he can go.”
Paschal was also complimentary of the Tech defense, which held Magnolia to seven points in the second half of the Eagles’ come-from-behind win last week.
“They’ve done a good job with them. Number 71 (Dave Fair) is a good looking kid. He plays well, plays hard. Their kids look strong; they must have been in the weight room,” Paschal said.
Against the Eagles tonight, Paschal said the key will be “not giving up the big play. Don’t give up something easy. You gotta make them earn it. The kicking game, to me, is always big, it looms bigger every game. You gotta make a kick, make a field goal. You can’t have any punts blocked and run back.
“And turnovers are always huge. That’s what I see Tech not doing. They’re not making mistakes and beating themselves. That gives you a chance to win.”
The Billies, who are the No. 1 seed from the Southeast, host GCT (9-2) in a second-round playoff battle that will feature potent offenses capable of scoring many points. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
“They’re 10 points from being undefeated. That tells me a lot right there,” Monticello coach Van Paschal said of the Eagles.
Paschal’s team enters the game with an 11-0 record after cruising past Vilonia 31-0 last Friday night in the opening round. Tech, the East’s No. 3 seed, toppled Magnolia 28-24 for its first playoff win in school history.
The Billies are making their fifth playoff appearance in as many years under Paschal.
“It’s been a good five years. You’ve got to have players to be successful, in my opinion. They make it go and we just try to keep them going in the right direction and keep them focused,” Paschal said.
ADVERTISEMENT |
“I think the key would be we’re playing as a team,” said Paschal, who has 27 seniors on his roster. “We don’t have any stars. We’ve got one (senior safety Brishen Matthews) that’s committed to Ole Miss. But he’s not head and shoulders above the kids I’ve seen in the past 25 years (of coaching).
“We’ve got a lot of seniors and I guess overall senior leadership has made a big difference.”
Offensively, the Billies are led by senior quarterback Joe Carmical. Against Vilonia, he had 12 carries for 126 yards and completed 7 of 11 passes for another 164 yards.
“He’s played well for us. He’s a senior. He also plays some linebacker for us,” Paschal said.
Carmical triggers the Billies’ double-wing, triple option attack.
“That’s our bread and butter. If we’re throwing (the ball), then we’re probably behind,” he said with a chuckle.
That’s been a rare occurence for the Billies this season. They’ve trailed in only one game, a 27-13 win over DeQueen in their season opener.
Since then, the Billies have piled up yardage and points with their rushing game. They wiped out Warren in the second game of season 62-32, beat Little Rock Mills 41-12 and scored 54 points on Little Rock McCellan.
Paschal said the Southeast conference is “down” this year. Still, the Billies have rolled in every game but one. The Billies’ only close game was a 12-6 win at White Hall.
“We played in some slop over there and we had (a touchdown) called back that would have put us up 17-0. We got a safety in the second half and that’s all they were going to let us have over there that night, and we ended up beating them up 12-6.
On the defensive side, the Billies have been stingy, allowing only 9.5 points per game. The MHS coach said the key defenders have been Matthews and linebackers Jordan Tilley and Ryan Shaw.
“On the defensive line, we mix and match and move them in and out so ...,” Paschal said. “Jordan Tilley is a three-year starter. He’s about 5-10 and 200. He’s not going to impress you when you see him, but he’s a three-year starter. We’re not that big. We really don’t have any standouts at all, other than being seniors and knowing the system.”
After looking at film of the Eagles, Paschal said he was impressed Tech playmakers Standrick Williams and Caleb Hartwig.
Paschal said Williams — who has rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 20 TDs this season, mostly out of Tech’s Wildcat formation — reminds him of Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster.
“(Hartwig) is a pretty good hand. (Williams), I bet a lot of (colleges) are looking at him. He’s got another gear. He can go. He’s faster than anybody we’ve got. And their quarterback (Justin Johnson), he’s a good hand too,” said Paschal.
The Billies coach his defense hasn’t seen anything “exactly like” the Wildcat formation this season. “(Williams) runs it very well. I’m very impressed. They’ve got big offensive linemen, it looks like, and (Williams) don’t need much room; he can go.”
Paschal was also complimentary of the Tech defense, which held Magnolia to seven points in the second half of the Eagles’ come-from-behind win last week.
“They’ve done a good job with them. Number 71 (Dave Fair) is a good looking kid. He plays well, plays hard. Their kids look strong; they must have been in the weight room,” Paschal said.
Against the Eagles tonight, Paschal said the key will be “not giving up the big play. Don’t give up something easy. You gotta make them earn it. The kicking game, to me, is always big, it looms bigger every game. You gotta make a kick, make a field goal. You can’t have any punts blocked and run back.
“And turnovers are always huge. That’s what I see Tech not doing. They’re not making mistakes and beating themselves. That gives you a chance to win.”
 |
 |
|
| GCT girls win Classic finale | PHS coach focuses on defense |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of paragoulddailypress.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Submit a Comment
Please note: We provide our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.