Clarkdale coach Jud Gartman admitted the Bulldogs coaching staff hasn’t had much luck sleeping this week.

That’s the side effect of having to gameplan against Kemper County quarterback LaColtan Bester. The Wildcats’ senior signal-caller has led Kemper County to a pair of Regilon 5-3A-opening wins, including a miracle rally past Southeast Lauderdale on Oct. 2.

“They’ve got a real good quarterback and we have to contain him,” Gartman said. “We have to know all his steps and his tendencies and get after him.

“Our coaches, I don’t think they’ve slept a whole lot this week. They’ve been looking at the film trying to figure out what to do, and it’s tough. You don’t know whether to stunt a lot or sit back a lot, wait on him or what.”

If the Bulldogs (3-5, 1-1) can slow Bester down, it could apply pressure to Kemper’s defense. Clarkdale rushed for a season-high 378 yards last week against Heidelberg and in the process gained something even bigger: confidence.

“That game gave us a big lift, a lot of confidence,” Gartman added. “Our line and and backs had a big night and it was their best effort. And as the night went on, we gained a lot of confidence.”

Behind that power running game and in facing the Wildcats (5-3, 2-0), Clarkdale controls its destiny behind Philadelphia, the region favorite.

“I’m sure everybody else is saying that same thing, but it’s true,” Gartman said. “All of us do. It’s up to any of us. We’re going to just see.”

— Jamie Wachter



Trojans ready for playoff intensity

With four Region 5-4A teams tied for second at 1-1, Northeast Lauderdale is entering the playoffs a few weeks early.

When Northeast Jones visits the Trojans on Friday, it is the first of three straight games to close out the regular season against teams fighting for playoff positioning. The Tigers are 1-6, 1-1 in the region.

“When you’ve got six teams in your region and four out of the six get to go, everybody’s backs are to the wall,” Northeast Lauderdale coach Steve Nelson said. “We’ve just got to come out ready to play.”

In addition to the increased stakes, the Trojans are also bracing for some stiff competition. With that, Nelson said he isn’t fooled by Northeast Jones’ overall record. Rather, it is a sign of the Tigers’ rugged non-conference schedule, which included Class 5A powers Wayne County and West Jones.

“I know Northeast Jones comes in at 1-6, but if you look at the competition those guys have played there’d be a lot of teams in our district 1-6,” Nelson said. “We can’t look at them being 1-6, we have to look at them being 1-1 in division with the same opportunity we have.”

For the Trojans to compete with the Tigers, Nelson again is hoping this is the week NEL puts together a complete game.

“We’re going to have our hands full and we’re going to have to play, hopefully this week we’ll play four quarters,” he said, about slowing the Tigers’ multi-faceted offense which features quarterbacks Alec Barlow and Juwan Lawrence and running backs Kevin Jackson and Lindsey Wilson. “If we do that, it should be a great ballgame.”

— Jamie Wachter



Tigers in must-win position

After dropping its first two games in Region 5-3A play, it is clear that Southeast Lauderdale is entering must-win territory Friday when the Tigers visit Choctaw Central.

“Ain’t no doubt it’s a must-win now,” Tigers coach Boo Smith said.

Adding to that difficul situation is Smith’s concern about a loss of confidence and lack of identity for the Tigers, a problem for a 2-7 team that is looking to bounce back into the playoff race.

“Our biggest problem is identity: we don’t know if we’re good or not because of what happened last week,” he said after a 33-0 loss at Philadelphia last Thursday.

“That’s what I was afraid of, once you start losing, the kids lose confidence in themselves or in the coaches. But I don’t think we have.”

Still, Smith believes Southeast is in the thick of that chase. Coming off that shutout loss, Smith is hopeful the Tigers can be the team that arises as the No. 2 in a wide-open race behind the Tornadoes.

“Hopefully we are that next-best team and if we are, the cream will rise to the top the last three weeks and we’ll get the job done,” he said.

To do that, though, Southeast has to upend a Choctaw Central squad enjoying a bounce-back season. After the Warriors stumbled to a 1-9 mark last year — their seventh straight losing season — Choctaw is 5-3 and 1-1 in the region behind the strong running of junior Lenoise Willis.

“Their best player is at fullback so we have to figure out a way to stop him,” Smith said. “We plan on doing that by putting our most active player (Ladarious Clark) at middle linebacker and key on No. 5.”

— Jamie Wachter