Dane King in Corsicana Saturday

[50's PONY]

10/31 Navarro's last shot a look to the future

By ROB LUDWIG/Special to the Daily Sun
When Navarro hosts Blinn on Saturday, the Bulldogs are hoping to get a glimpse of their potential future.

Blinn struggled at times last season under first-year coach Scott Maxfield. The Bucs followed a three-win season in 2002 with a 6-2 record entering their final regular season game. Blinn returned nine starters on offense and load of talented players on defense from last season's team and has turned it into a playoff club that features perhaps the most dynamic offense in the country.

The Bucs (3-2 in conference) are tops in the country in total offense, averaging 564 yards and 54 points per game this season, including a 55-point, 663-yard effort in last week's victory against Cisco.

"Blinn has a very potent offense and they've played exceptionally well all season," said Navarro Coach Chuck Lawrence. "A lot of people didn't think anyone could stop Texas Tech, but Missouri held on to the football and scored when they had it and beat them."

To duplicate Missouri's feat would be a tall chore for the Bulldogs, who enter their final game 1-7 overall. The Bucs closed their season in 2002 by spoiling Northeastern Oklahoma's bid for a national title, giving the Golden Norsemen their only loss of the season. Like Blinn did a year ago, Navarro will be starting nine freshmen on offense. Unlike Blinn of 2002, the Bulldogs have been very inconsistent on offense, averaging only 220 yards per game and scoring just one touchdown on the ground.

Lawrence says his offense's success this week is imperative if the Bulldogs are to keep up with the high-powered Bucs. Jake McDougle will start his third straight game at quarterback. He passed for three touchdowns against Cisco two weeks ago despite often being on the run because of poor protection.

"One of the positive things we have going for us is that we've got he same quarterback in place for the fourth straight week," he said. "That's the longest we've had the same quarterback in the first huddle since last spring. I think Jake has gained more confidence and the kids have more confidence in Jake. Because he has had some success throwing the football the last three games, people have to give our passing game a little respect.

"That should open things up for our running game. (Tailback Coron) Arteberry has had some time to sit out during our off week and I think he's going to be as close to 100 percent as a running back can be entering the 10th week of the season."

Keeping the Blinn offense may the Bulldogs' best policy. Quarterback Dane King leads the conference with 2,546 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. His favorite receiver is Rashod Turner (60 catches, 10 TDs), though four other Bucs are among the league's top 25 pass catchers.

What makes Blinn's offense so effective is that it doesn't move exclusively through the air. Running back Derrick Ross (6-2, 240), leads the conference with 1,288 yards and 18 touchdowns. Backup running back Treeo Gibson is averaging 12.1 yards per carry and set a conference record earlier this season with a 99-yard scoring run.

"They come up to the line of scrimmage with a run check and a pass check," Lawrence said. "We have to be clever in our disguises. We've got to try to get them to check into the wrong play. We'll disguise our run blitz or how many we're going to keep in the box.

"With all the numbers Blinn has produced this season, they don't use a vertical passing game. They use a lot of slants, hitches and screens. But every one of their receivers is capable of turning a four-yard pass into an 80-yard touchdown run."

With what most on the Navarro campus would regard a forgettable season finally coming to an end, it might be difficult for Lawrence to get his players up for the season finale. Not so, says the dean of Southwest Junior College Football Conference coaches.

"The players have been the same all year long," he said. "They've been giving me all they've got. Effort has not been our problem, and effort won't be a problem against Blinn on Saturday at Tiger Field."





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10/31 Not breaking allegiances here

10/31 Fairfield must wait another day

10/31 Navarro earns second seed

10/30 FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW: No. 6 Tigers vs. No. 1 Ennis: One for the ages (w/capsule)

10/30 REGION II-4A TENNIS TOURNAMENT: A tough road to Austin

10/30 DAILY SUN GC GAME OF THE WEEK: Dawson hopes to play spoiler

10/30 Golden Circle Friday Game Capsules

10/30 Area volleyball races still undetermined

10/29 TIGER FOOTBALL: Tigers hope for a repeat of 1980 performance at Ennis

10/29 Wortham win creates tie for first

10/29 Rice impressive in rematch

10/29 Navarro cruises in 8-0 win

10/29 Covington forfeits vs. Hubbard

10/28 TIGER FOOTBALL: Tiger defense prepping for potent Ennis offense

10/28 THE CORSICANA-ENNIS SERIES

10/28 Tigers stay put; Fairfield drops out of polls (w/AP polls)

EVENTS CALENDAR

AREA SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 20






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