Published: November 29, 2008 07:04 pm         

Cayuga keeps making history with each win

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



For the Cayuga Wildcats, every win means something new for the football program.

The Wildcats defeated Bremond 35-32 Friday night as Cayuga advances to the fourth round of the playoffs and got its 11th win. Both accomplishments are the first in Cayuga football history.

“This is the greatest feeling in the world,” Cayuga quarterback Broc January said Friday night while he was holding the regional semifinal trophy. “Our goal was to make the playoffs and play in games like these.”

Cayuga made history last year with its first ever playoff win and those records continue to pile up as the Wildcats move into the Class A-Region III finals for the first time.

“Our kids are growing up and finding ways to win football games,” second-year Cayuga head coach Tommy Allison said. “These kids are learning how to win big games and we have had a tough schedule this year and these kids have come through.”

Allison said the football team’s success will not only help the football program but much more.

“What our football team does helps every program in our school,” Allison said. “We always talk about winning breeding winning and that is what is going on in Cayuga.”

————

Someone Different: In each of the Wildcats’ three playoff wins, it has been a different player each game that has come up with the big plays.

From Traylon Shead and the defense against Tenaha to January and Billy Duncan against James Bowie to Malcome Kennedy Friday night against Bremond, the Wildcats have had several players step up when needed.

“It proves what we have been saying all year, we have lots of playmakers who have built our success,” Allison said.

Friday night, Kennedy did it on both sides of the ball. The Wildcat junior had three interceptions, including one for a touchdown and he had over 100 yards receiving including a score. He also recovered a fumble on a kickoff.

“Malcome made some really big plays for us,” Allison said. “When we needed a play, Malcome was always around the football.

“It was a special night for him that he will always remember.”

Kennedy’s biggest play came in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Bremond trailed by four points and had just gotten an interception in the end zone to stop a Cayuga drive.

But Kennedy got the Wildcats on the board as he stepped in front of the receiver on the sideline to get the interception and then raced 19 yards for the touchdown.

Kennedy got his third interception on the next Bremond drive as the Lions had gotten into Cayuga territory when a tipped pass fell into Kennedy’s hands. Kennedy had another big return but it was called back due to an injury.

“The interceptions were pretty big back breakers,” Allison said. “Malcome also had big returns on two of the interceptions so it not only changed the momentum but also the field position.”

Kennedy’s first interception came in the first quarter on Bremond’s third play of the game. Kennedy made a one-handed interception in front of the receiver and returned the ball 20 yards inside Bremond territory.

That set up Kennedy for another sensational catch as on fourth and 20, January went deep to Kennedy in the back of the end zone and the Wildcat receiver out jumped two defenders and made a one-handed catch for a 31-yard score.

“When the ball was in the air, I did not care how high it was, I was going up to get it,” Kennedy said. “It was a pretty hard catch and I surprised myself on that one.”

Kennedy finished with four catches for 112 yards and three of the catches were for first down. Kennedy also rushed seven times for 28 yards including a critical 13-yard gain on third down that set up a touchdown in the second half.

————

Third downs no problem: The Cayuga Wildcats made it look easy on third and fourth downs Friday night.

Cayuga was 6-of-11 on third and fourth downs, including converting on six of its first eight attempts.

“Getting those third downs were very huge in our winning the game,” Allison said. “We kept drives alive to score and we kept their offense off the field.”

On their first drive of the game, the Wildcats converted twice on third down with the same play. On third and 10 and then again on third and five, Cayuga used a pitch play to Shead and the running back was able to get to the outside each time to get 11 and 12 yards respectively to move the chains with first downs.

“That was a play we put in this week and we had some success with it early on,” Allison said. “Those two plays were big to sustain the drive.”

The Wildcats went on to score on a 2-yard run by January to take the early lead.

Cayuga then scored its next two touchdowns on third and fourth downs.

On fourth down and 20, January threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kennedy and on the next drive, on third and six, Shead broke free for a 31-yard touchdown.

“We seem to do a good job focusing when we get to third and fourth downs,” Allison said. “We did a great job executing on those plays Friday night.”

————

Different Looks: For nearly two years the Wildcats used the shotgun, spread formation for most of the time.

But the last five games, the Wildcats have been using several different looks on offense, everything from the spread to jumbo packages.

“As you continue playing, you try to find ways to be successful and move the football,” Allison said. “Each week, we try to find the best way to move the football against the opponent we are playing.”

The new offensive looks started against Alto, when Cayuga primarily ditched the spread offense and went with three extra lineman, had the quarterback under center and moved the running back 7 yards deep. The formation was set up to run the football right at the defense and the Wildcats used it again against Tenaha.

Friday night against Bremond, the Wildcats used a combination of the spread and jumbo packages. Several times throughout the night, the Wildcats stayed in the shotgun formation, but used a tight end on both sides of the line.

“We felt like it was a look that we could use against them,” Allison said. “We will do whatever it takes to move the football and if that means changing our look, we will do that.”

Allison said the team has worked on the different formations throughout the season but try to limit it each week specifically to the team they are playing.

“We try to concentrate on just a few things each week and then as the game goes on, we try to find out what we are having success with.”

The multiple formations Cayuga has used the last five weeks can be an advantage as opponents can’t just game plan against the spread.

“Being successful with our multiple looks means opponents can’t just focus on stopping one thing,” Allison said.

————

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

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.