Familiar Foe: Opposing coaches face alma maters in this week’s PRC, Forrest County bout
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Orlando Malley, 95, chases down a running back behind the line of scrimmage in previous action.
Tristan Anderson, 2, goes around a pile of defenders for a first down.
Blue Devils’ Ryan Spradley takes one of his seven carries past a defender during last week’s regional rivalry game against Poplarville.
CARRIERE — With 22 years of coaching at Forrest County Agricultural High School under his belt, a 4A championship ring from 2013 and a diploma from FCAHS, it is safe to say Pearl River Central coach Larry Dolan knows the Aggies well. But now, Dolan is in his second year away from the Aggies, and is geared to collect his second win against FCAHS since his departure.
“I’m a Blue Devil now and come game day, there won’t be any distractions with who our opponent is,” Dolan said. “I don’t care if we are playing the Green Bay Packers, I want to win.”
Likewise, FCAHS coach Jeff Stockstill, is a Blue Devil graduate.
Regardless, Dolan said he believes the team that hangs on the longest and is in the best condition will win. And with the recent bad weather, Dolan said the Blue Devils must be ready for a wet field and sloppy conditions that could impact the game Friday night.
“You can hardly prepare for bad weather, but both teams are on the same field dealing with the same conditions,” Dolan said. “We just need to go out there and play. Our team is talented and it’s time we show that.”
The Aggies (1-1) proved that the team relies on an athletic backfield duo to produce points in their first two games of the season.
Sophomore Devonte Dixon hit the ground running in the Aggies’ season opener against Vancleave, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Last week, Dixon failed to find the end zone, but nearly eclipsed 100 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry between those initial two games.
Senior Cornelius Smith also poses a threat to the Blue Devils this Friday, averaging 81 yards per game and reaching pay dirt once in each of the Aggies’ games this season.
The Blue Devils have not done well against teams that primarily run, allowing nine rushing touchdowns and one end zone reception in two games.
“We have got to get better; better at tackling and picking up missed assignments. We’ve been focusing on that a lot lately and should see a difference come Friday. We just have to go out there and execute,” Dolan said.
PRC quarterback Tristan Anderson led the Blue Devils in carries last week against regional rival Poplarville with 12 runs for 40 yards and completed two of eight pass attempts for 80 yards and one interception. Running back Louis Reece took 10 carries for 47 yards against the Hornets and looks to carry the bulk of runs once again against the Aggies Friday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Carriere.
