Published: August 28, 2008 02:03 am            

Start of football season

Palestine ready for new beginings

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



Football is finally here.

That was the sentiment of Palestine head coach Booker Bowie Wednesday after practice as the Wildcats prepare for their first game of the season.

“The kids, the coaches, we are all excited about getting the season started,” Bowie said. “We had a good start in the spring, had good workouts in the summer, been working hard now in practice and we are ready for the first game.”

The Wildcats will start the season against a familiar opponent — the Rusk Eagles. The kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Stadium in Rusk.

After spending six years on the Palestine sideline as a defensive coordinator, Friday will mark the first game for Bowie as the Wildcat head coach.

“I am really excited but it is going to be a little different,” Bowie said.

With Bowie returning to Palestine, it also marks the return of his aggressive defense. The Palestine defense’s first test of the season will be against Rusk’s split-back veer. The triple-option offense was brought with new Rusk head coach Ted Patton, who used it very successfully at Elysian Field, including last season when the team reached the Class 2A state championship game.

Patton said his Rusk team is still adjusting to the new offense after running the spread offense last season.

“Offensively it has taken more time,” Patton said. “We are in the stage of still learning the offense.”

Bowie said the key against the veer is going to be discipline.

“They are going to run the same plays and they are going to keep coming waiting for a mistake,” Bowie said. “We have to play disciplined defense.”

The biggest key for the Palestine defense may lie in the Wildcat linebackers staying at home and not overpursing. Bowie compared defending the veer to “going on a blind date” — not knowing what to expect.

“Our linebackers have responsibilities before the ball is snapped and have to carry those responsibilities out once the play starts,” the Palestine head coach said. “Once there is no threat to their gap responsibilities, then they can run to the football.”

The Palestine secondary also has to make sure they do not fall asleep as Rusk runs the ball in the veer. Once the secondary starts to play the run, the Eagles will use play-action and could turn that into a big passing play.

“The secondary has to read their keys and take care of their own responsibility,” Bowie said. “They cannot cheat and try to help others.”

After watching Rusk in a scrimmage last week against Crockett, Bowie said he was impressed with the Eagles’ two running backs.

“They hit the hole hard and keep their feet moving,” Bowie said. “We are going to have to wrap up and tackle well.”

The Palestine defense is coming off a scrimmage in which it allowed only one score — a long touchdown run — to Henderson. The Wildcats did not allow another play of more than 20 yards and did not allow Henderson past the 50-yard line.

Bowie said the performance in the scrimmage was a big improvement from Palestine’s first scrimmage at Lindale.

“We got a little more relaxed and that allowed us to be more aggressive,” Bowie said. “We did a good job reading our keys.”

While it is only the first game of the season, Bowie said it would be important to be able to come home from Rusk with a win.

“We want to be able to start off on a good note.” the Palestine head coach said. “We want them to have confidence in our schemes.”

Notes: This is the fifth straight season Palestine and Rusk have played. Palestine has won four straight games against Rusk, including last season’s 47-27 win. ...Palestine is 7-4 in the all-time series against Rusk. The two teams played from 1911-1923 before meeting up again five years ago. ...Former Palestine offensive line coach David Wilbanks, who was with the Wildcats from 2004-2006, is now an assistant coach at Rusk.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

        

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