Published: November 04, 2009 11:26 pm      

Stakes rise for Velma-Alma

Comets face Headlton for District Runner up

VELMA — Velma-Alma head coach Greg Gothard knows his football team is heading into one of its biggest games of the season.

Gothard is confident about his team’s ability, but he also knows that it has been a while since his Comets have been in a game as big as Friday night’s showdown at Edgar Martin Field- Jerb Bryant Stadium with the Healdton Bulldogs.

“This is the biggest game since Ringling, maybe bigger,” Gothard said.

When the Comets and Bulldogs lineup across from one another, second place in District A-4 will be on the line.

Both teams come into the regular-season finale with a 7-1 district record, each team’s loss coming to the Ringling Blue Devils. Overall, Healdton is a sturdy 8-1, and Velma-Alma is 7-2.

“What they got is a lot of moxie,” Gothard said. “They caught Maysville healthier than we did. The got behind Elmore City 20-7 at half. They held Elmore City scoreless in the second half and then go 97 at the end of the game for a touchdown. They made the extra point to win it. They just hang in there.”

The Bulldogs ability to “hang in there” is what has Gothard concerned.

“We haven’t been in the fourth quarter of a game since Ringling,” Gothard said. “We’ve had games that if we got out and play good, bad or ugly you’re going to win. We don’t want that. It is hard to keep focus in games like that. I think it is going to take everything we’ve got Friday night.”

Being in a game where the second team isn’t likely to see the field has his team responding well in practice, Gothard said.

“For the past couple of weeks I’ve been pleased with how we’ve practiced,” he said. “Our practice level has gone up in intensity this week.

“If you ask the kids, they’d probably tell you that they’ve seen a difference in Coach (Scott) Combest and myself, too.”

The Bulldogs are running a flex-bone, option-based offense, and Gothard said that playing assignment football on defense is going to be key to a win.

“We have to be disciplined on defense,” he said. “If you don’t do your job physically, you’re going to get beat. They lull you to sleep. They won’t pitch, won’t pitch and then they do. Basically, it is like baseball. If it is the bottom of the ninth and you haven’t had a ball hit to you, you need to be ready because it could come at you at any time.”

Health-wise the Comets are in good shape.

“We really don’t have anything and the sickness that we’ve battled for so long has passed,” Gothard said.

Both teams like to run the ball. The Comets have 2,561 yards on the ground and the Bulldogs have 2,178 yards on the ground.

Velma-Alma’s leading rusher is Tanner Jenkins with 989 yards and 15 scores. Healdton will counter with J.J. Montaie, who has 668 yards rushing and 10 scores.

Velma-Alma senior Trenten Files had 589 yards on the ground for V-A and Tyler Smith sits at 513 yards and six scores.

Healdton’s Garrett Powell has rushed for 557 yards and teammate Dustin Roper has gained 447 yards on the ground this season.

Defensively, the Comets have allowed 118 points, while Healdton has given up 157 points on the year.