Leesville Road football
PHOTO BY ROB ORAZI
Leesville Road's Carson Moss (75), Doug Theret (65), Dylan Edwards (42) and Josh Stanley (10) have been critical in helping the Pride average more than 37 points per game this season. The foursome look to continue its offensive dominance against Broughton Friday.
Leesville Road seeks redemption for '08 loss to Caps
People always talk about the one that got away.
Whether it be a girl, a fish or a financial windfall, when an opportunity is squandered, it is often remembered.
For the Leesville football team, the "one" in question is last year's humbling 35-14 loss to Broughton.
The Pride entered the 2008 game unbeaten eyeing an outright Cap-7 Conference title. On the heels of a 34-0 rout of Enloe to open the league schedule, Leesville looked to be the class of the conference.
Yet the Capitals throttled the Pride, slamming the door with a 21-point fourth quarter.
"They beat us pretty good," Leesville coach David Green recalled. " We went out there and stunk it up."
The shocking upset caught most people off-guard. To add insult to injury, Broughton went on to win just two league games.
The bitter taste of the loss stayed with the Pride all spring and summer, and tonight's (Friday's) game with the Capitals has been circled for sometime.
While no two seasons' scenarios are identical, there are parallels between this year and last — first and foremost, the expectations on the 6-0 Pride.
Again Leesville is picked by most to win the Cap-7 Conference. In last week's opener at Enloe, the Pride ran over the Eagles 34-7. Not a shutout like 2008, but still a rout.
On the other side, Broughton (2-4) enters the 2009 match-up following a gutsy win over a solid Millbrook team. While the Capitals struggled with a demanding non-conference schedule, which included Fayetteville Jack Britt, they played everyone reasonably close except for the Buccaneers.
In 2008, the Capitals entered their match-up with the Pride after a 54-18 stomping of Athens Drive. So, just like last year, Broughton comes into the contest with a full head of steam.
"They are a good football team, so we are going to have to do a better job than we did last year," Green said.
Having broken down video of Broughton's meeting last week with Millbrook, the Leesville coach came away impressed with the squad's ability to succeed in a variety of fashions.
"They did a good job of running and throwing the ball. Plus, they gave a lot of different looks, a lot of different formations," he said. "They played a lot of different personnel groupings. They are not a one-dimensional team by any means."
Broughton's Chris Manugs handled the brunt of the team's rushing attack against Millbrook, carrying the ball 20 times for nearly 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Will Turner and Jeff Moore shared QB duties, throwing for a combined 63 yards.
However, the Capitals weren't the only ones hurting their opponent with multiple weapons last week.
Leesville Road routed Enloe on the strength of Dylan Edwards' running as the senior rumbled 22 times for nearly 130 yards and two touchdowns. Nate Whittington added another 31 yards on just five carries.
QB Josh Stanley also tossed two touchdown passes, and scrambled for another.
Green lauded Edwards' strong running, and his ability to handle his running back and linebacker duties.
"It can get a little tricky when you have a guy who plays offense and defense," the coach said. "You have to see how long he is staying out on defense, and make sure he is getting rest.
"How much he runs depends a lot on what we are trying to do offensively. Do we want a speed guy in there? A power guy? Are we throwing a lot? When you have a guy playing both ways — and we have a few — you have to adjust to where you need them most."
Green said a player's defensive responsibilities usually take precedence.
Having played four of their last five games on the road, coach Green and the Pride are looking forward to playing in front of a home audience Friday.
"We should have a nice crowd — the Loonies will be out in force," he said. "It will be nice to not have to get on a bus and go somewhere."
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
