SAN ANGELO, TX – As San Angelo Central prepares for its week one matchup against a speedy Killeen Shoemaker team, the Bobcats are leaning on versatility and discipline to help slow them down.
“Shoemaker has a good football team. Coach Foreman has been there for a while now and he’s got them going in the right direction,” San Angelo Central Head Coach Brent Davis said in his Monday press conference. “I was impressed by their team speed. That’s the one thing that has me worried.”
Central’s defense is excited for the challenge and will be relying on an experienced defensive front line to contain Shoemaker’s offense. Junior quarterback Tyjayzeon Bell will be the main focus as someone who can hurt you with his arm as well as his legs. “He’s very athletic,” Defensive Coordinator Josh Willis said. “We have to contain him and keep him in the pocket when he scrambles. We have to make him put his foot in the ground quick and get rid of the football.”
Central put an emphasis this week on studying Shoemaker’s play calling tendencies and staying disciplined in their assignments. Communication between players and knowing where help is will be a key to preventing big plays downfield.
Two players Willis expects to have a big impact on Friday are team captain Xy’Kerion Paulk and three year starter Malik Finley. Paulk recorded 40 tackles and 2 sacks during a 2018 season that was punctuated by a First Team All District selection while Finley is poised to have an excellent season as a leader in the secondary.
The defense will, however, be without star defensive end Bradey Allen who has been moved to fill a need at left guard alongside returning tackle Kurt Klausner. The team is hopeful that this powerful duo can pave the way for a rushing attack that has the talent but not the experience as they start the season.
“He’ll be full time offense and then sprinkled in there on defense,” Klausner said when asked about how Allen will be used.
“[He will] start on offense and we will go with the flow of the game and how he’s doing with the heat and the pace of the game,” Willis added. “The offense goes fast and we snap the ball a lot of times so that’s something we’ll have to judge and something we’ll have to get a feel for.”
Coaches have had this position change in the back of their minds since Allen first transferred from Irion County. He made the transition for good on Monday after receiving some reps with the offense last season.
Allen is not the only instance where Coach Davis has reorganized his depth chart to get the best players on the field. Sophomore Ty Casey is expected to play well at safety this season after making the change from wide receiver.
The Bobcats are looking for their sixth straight win against Shoemaker since 2010.
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