Ever since Legacy won their inaugural game against the Mansfield Tigers last year, there has been a rivalry between the two teams. It’s evident that the Tigers are our biggest rival in football. This Friday’s match up is not only for bragging rights, but crucial for the Broncos to get back in the race for the playoffs. With Mansfield sitting at third place (2-1) in Division 5 football, and Legacy sitting at sixth (1-2), a win would move the Broncos up substantially in the rankings.
What we have Going for Us
Offense: Starting quarterback Quentin Hasten will return into the lineup against the Tigers. It was evident last week against Midlothian that his passing abilities were missed and if he had been present in the game, we could have won. With Hasten returning, we should expect to see a much improved passing game. Decarlos Humphrey gives us the threat of the big play. Humphrey averages 111 rushing yards a game and will be a vital part in scoring against a Tiger defense which allows 26 points a game. Expect Hasten to handle a lot of the passing, and Humphrey to be subbed in for gimmick plays, much like the McNabb/Vick duo in Philadelphia last year. Humphrey’s ability to run will make the defense play tight, and open up the passing game even more.Don’t forget about running back Andrew Antia. Since he earned the starting job at tailback, Antia has rushed for 271 yards in two games and is an explosive back that gets our offensive drives rolling.
Defense: Aside from giving up 49 points to Cedar Hill in week one, the Bronco defense averages giving up only 15 points in district play. The defense is anchored by a strong safety core in Ian Simon and Tevin Mitchell, who rarely give up big plays and are excellent against stopping the run as well. Up front, they have an outstanding outside linebacker in Kendal Washington. Washington is solid against the run, leading the team in tackles and has come up big in many games. In addition to run support, Washington is also an instinctive player in coverage who is adept at reading the quarterback’s eyes and making a play on the ball. He and middle linebacker, Zach White will be key in stopping Mansfield running back Damon Bullock.
Keys to Victory
Stop Beating Ourselves: Legacy has experienced the bitter taste of defeat because of mistakes and penalties. If the team plays fundamental football, we will stop facing those third and longs and have more manageable offensive drives. The Broncos have improved their ball security that used to be a problem for them earlier in the year. We need to eliminate turnovers which were the main reason for the loss to Midlothian. Legacy possesses the talent it needs. We just need to harness the talent and execute flawlessly.
Stop Bullock: The defense has a daunting task of stopping a Tiger offense that averages 40 points a game. The Tiger offense is a little one sided with heavy running by Tailback Damon Bullock. Bullock accounts for 40% of the Tigers’ entire offense. Bullock has 828 yards rushing on 135 carries and has scored 15 touchdowns. If Bullock is shut down, then the Broncos can focus on getting after Tigers quarterback Jerod Evans, who has already thrown five interceptions this season.
Keep Those Legs Churning: In order to be successful, the Broncos have to get their running game going which has carried them to where they are now. In district play, the Broncos only have one passing touchdown in district play. If the Broncos can control the clock with heavy running from Antia and Humphrey, then this will force Mansfield to have to get into their vertical game to catch up. Although Evans is a competent quarterback, passing is not Mansfield’s strong suit. The running game will keep Hasten out of third and longs, which will be a relief for him against the Mansfield pass rush.
