LAURINBURG — The Fighting Scots are trying not to get complacent as they prepare for Purnell Swett.
Of course, with high school athletes that’s easier said than done.
In the past seven years, the Scots have outscored the Rams 317-64 including a 56-0 trouncing last season.
“I don’t think it’s easy at any level of football — high school, college or the NFL — if you’ve beaten a team pretty consistently throughout the years you’re not going to get as much focus as you would like as a coach,” Scots head coach Richard Bailey. “I try to coach the same every week, we try to tell our kids the most important game is the next one. We realize whoever the conference champion is this year is probably going to be undefeated (in the conference) and we need to go into every game with our own sense of desperation because we have our own goals and we don’t want to slip up.”
After starting the season off 3-0 Purnell has lost it’s last two games a 38-14 defeat to Hoggard before opening conference play with a 56-34 loss to Richmond in Rockingham.
The Rams first three wins of the year came against Pine Forest (3-3), Ashley (2-3) and Douglas Byrd (0-6). Before the start of the regular season, the Scots and Purnell faced off in 7-on-7 drills and Bailey was impressed with the Rams skill players.
“The beginning part of their schedule they played well against some teams that don’t have great records. We had a hard time against them in 7-on-7 drills, I saw an improvement in how their kids looked and played,” Bailey said. “Winning the first three games of the year a lot of momentum but the last two games they have run into some tough opponents — Hoggard and Richmond — now they just have a tough schedule. They are probably getting a little desperate and need a win.”
The Fighting Scots defense will have to contend with Purnell’s three-year starting quarterback Luke Oxendine, who had 51 completions for 621 yards and seven touchdowns. Oxendine has only thrown two interceptions.
Oxendine’s main target is junior receiver Chandler Brayboy who has 22 catches for 335 yards and four touchdowns. When the Rams aren’t airing it out, Oxendine will hand the ball off to senior running back Al’drique Thompson. Thompson has 37 carries for 248 yards and six touchdowns.
Despite the back-to-back losses Purnell’s offense is still managing to put points on the board with the types of offensive schemes they are running.
“They are pretty balanced, they like to run a lot of jet sweeps, inside zones and counters sort of like what we do,” said Bailey. “They look for throws over the top, whether it’s deep post or come backs so they spread the ball out. He (Oxendine) doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, so we’re going to have to make plays. That’s where I’ve seen the biggest improvement with them is in their offense. Their offense has been really consistent and put up a lot of points against Richmond.”
The Scots defensive unit has 16 quarterback sacks, two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — and a fumble recovery. Over their first four games, the Scots defense has given up an average of 24 points per game — a significant up tick from the six points they were giving up this time last year.
Bailey said his defense has progressed but there is always room from improvement.
“We’re still giving up a few more points than I would like. You’re playing some big play guys and some of those points have been against back-ups or when the game was decided,” he said. “Our secondary has gotten better, but we had one fade last week that got us. One we batted down and the player caught it and the other was a blown coverage. When we line up right and everyone is on the same page we’ve done really well last two weeks of defending the pass and getting a lot of pressure on the quarterback — which we’ve done that all year.”
A lack of depth has crept into the forefront for the Scots as players deal with bumps, bruises and trying to get over the flu. The Scots offensive line continues to be without senior Darrian Reeves who is still recovering from meniscus surgery.
“We were hopeful that Darrian would be back for Hoke County next week, I do think it will probably be the week after against Seventy-First,” he said. “That would be that eight-week period. It looks like it will be eight weeks instead of six. Most of the people are dinged up with ankle and wrist sprains, things that they will be able to play with.”
Bailey said it’s not necessarily his starters that are banged up but their back-ups, which could cause problems in blow-out games because Bailey will likely have to leave his starters in risking them getting injured.
“Our back ups got to play a lot last week so some of them are beat up this week,” he said. “Our starters may have to play a little longer. The problem is when you don’t have a lot of depth you’re always guarding against getting your starters hurt. We’re trying to do that, but this week our back-ups are hurt it makes it difficult.”
The Scots will travel to Pembroke on Friday to take on Purnell in Week 2 of SAC-8 play. Kick off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
