Published: October 08, 2008 10:20 am      

Comanche faces another tough test

AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

COMANCHE — COMANCHE — The road doesn’t get any easier this week for the Indians.

After being shell-shocked 51-0 last week at Crooked Oak, Comanche travels to Hobart this week in search of its first win. The Indians (0-5) had trouble stopping the Ruf-Nex on defense last week, surrendering 353 total yards of offense. Comanche gave up an 84-yard kickoff return in the opening minute, and was victim of an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“It’s a rough time right now,” head coach Brent Clark said. “You’ve got two choices. We can either throw in the towel or keep digging. But I think everyone here has brought his cleats.”

Comanche has fallen a long way from its opening week when it was only a play or two away from beating a solid Velma-Alma team, losing 20-14 in double overtime. Since, Comanche has lost 33-0 to Marlow, 27-0 to Frederick and 51-0 to Crooked Oak for a combined 115-0 point spread. Still, Clark knows his team isn’t going to quit.

“They’re (Hobart) going to be a good team,” Clark said. “They play sound defensively, they’ll come hit you in the mouth.”

Freshman Johnny Heath remains at quarterback for the Indians, rushing for 61 yards and throwing for 85 on 8-for-18 passing against Crooked Oak.

Hobart will host Comanche at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

SW Covenant at Central High

CENTRAL HIGH — The Bronchos are feeling good this week.

After knocking off Cyril 42-12 for its first win last week, Central High (1-4) is looking to make it two in a row against Southwest Covenant on Friday night. Head coach Stoney Burt was pleased with his team’s performance last week and said it was a collective effort to finally put four good quarters of football together.

Central High quarterback Kyler Newton threw three touchdown passes against Cyril, helping lead the offense to its highest point output of the season.

Central High led 18-12 at half time last week, but pulled away in the third quarter with several big plays on defense. Burt said his players are learning some of the things they can do if they play smart and execute their plays.

“Winning cures a lot things,” Burt said after the game.

Central High will host Southwest Covenant at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Rush Springs at Empire

EMPIRE — The Bulldogs were on the losing end of a tough battle last week, losing 14-6 to Elmore City-Pernell.

This week, they’ll face Rush Springs who is coming off its first win of the year, beating Wilson 15-14.

Empire has some unfortunate breaks against ECP, giving up a safety in the first quarter and a touchdown late in the fourth that would prove the difference in the game. Empire’s defense allowed 223 yards, while its offense nearly matched it with 217.

Chance Bridges ran for 174 yards on 21 carries for Empire, putting himself in first place among the area’s leading rushers. Bridges failed to reach the endzone against ECP last week, but will hopefully break through against Rush Springs on Friday as the Redskins’ defense has been shaky at times this year.

Empire has battled injuries all year, losing several starting linemen at various points of the season — hampering its ability to reach a consistent flow on offense. This week, the Bulldogs will hope to piece every thing together.

Empire will host Rush Springs on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.



WAURIKA — The Eagles may be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The rock being Maysville and its 33-0 whipping last week, and the hard place as they travel to Ringling high school this Friday. Waurika (1-4) is coming off a game against the Warriors where it only totaled 159 yards of offense while giving up over 400.

Things will have to change this week as Ringling comes in as one of the hottest Class-A teams in the state, having won five straight. They beat Velma-Alma 27-0 last week, as tailback Michael Hudson sliced through the Comets’ defense for 266 yards on 32 carries.

Waurika’s Levi Henderson had 72 yards on eight carries for the Eagles against Maysville, as he will look to increase that total against the Blue Devils.

Waurika will travel to Ringling Friday night at 7:30 p.m.