Livingston is looking to rebound as they return home Friday versus a team that has struggled recently.
Last week’s test versus one of the district’s powers did not end in the Lions’ favor, and Coach Tucker Carter said his team needs improvement mentally to get back in the win column.
“How we played in the first quarter, it was indicative of our week of prep,” Carter said of the contest at Little Cypress-Mauriceville. “Just being on a break, minds were wandering everywhere, not real focused, and that's what happens when you go out and spot someone 28 points. It's tough to get back in the game.
“Defensively, we held up well, as far as just getting put back on the field time after time again and having to answer the bell and sustain. Offensively, it was very disappointing. The biggest thing was just having undisciplined penalties and getting behind the chains. It's hard to play every drive in the first half when we were second-and-long or third-and-long. There’s not a lot of good calls on the call sheet when you're that far behind the chains and everybody in the stadium knows you’ve got to throw it.
“I think that we've got to have better attention to detail as far as playing with good technique, not getting holding calls, not having selfish personal fouls. It's just things that were lack of focus and errors that cannot happen if we want to be successful. I thought the few times we played in front of the chains, we moved the ball.”
The opponent Friday is Bridge City, which the coach said is better than their 2-5 record indicates. The Cardinals have challenged some of the more talented teams in the area in non-district action versus Silsbee and West Orange-Stark. Their two wins this season were in the season opener over Kirbyville and district opener over Lumberton. Since then, they have dropped contests to Vidor and Hargrave.
“They've played some tough non-district opponents that they've dropped games to, but they probably throw the ball as well or better than anybody in the district,” Carter said. “They like to air it out, so we’ll have to be good in some coverage stuff.
“The quarterback is a very good operator. He throws the ball very well in their spread. They like to get in three- and four-wide receiver looks and have a physical, downhill run game, and then air it out. They've had a lot of success when he's been able to stand in a clean pocket or get out of the pocket and scramble. We've got to stay attached to our coverage assignments if he's in or out of the pocket, be disciplined in our rush lanes trying to get to him, and put some pressure on him.”
There are a few stars on the defense that can close on ball carriers quickly. The Cardinals will show several formations to confuse an offense.
“Defensively, They've probably got two of the better inside linebackers in the district. Obviously, (Bryce) Breeden is going to Arkansas, and then (Keagan) Trahan, he's a really good player as well. They put a ton of pressure on you as far as their defense, and so this is a week where we definitely can't have a bunch of penalties on offense. We've got to scheme up some explosives and stay on the field.
“They're more (of an odd front defense) this year, but they're as multiple (in formations) as anyone we played on defense, because they've got some smart kids and they've got some really athletic linebacker type of kids that they walk up or play in the box. We've got to be sound on our rules up front, be able to get some movement, and try to get create some creases.
“Those kids will play inside linebacker in the box, they'll play as outside stand-up edge rushers, they'll play a little bit of everything. They feel confident with those pieces and moving those kids around and trying to create chaos. The teams that have played well against them have created explosive plays – long touchdown runs or throws. That's something that we've really got to hit, six-plus explosives, if we want to win the game, as far as 20- or 25-yard plays. Try to get them out of their wheelhouse of being in control. If you play behind the chains against these guys, they're going to pin their ears back and come after you and it's tough.”
