ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE

Words to live by taught to me through a hard but fair process and restated to me by a good friend of mine.  Often said but never really implemented into our everyday life.  I said I would go back and review the last month of the season for those readers and followers that are keeping up with the team I coach, the Oak Ridge Wildcats.  It has been a very interesting and difficult month for Coach Rosser, coach of Quarterback, Wide Receivers and co-offensive coordinator.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
About 3 weeks ago we went on the road to play to district rivals, Powell High School, winners of the district last season and one of our two district losses last year.  There is quite the fire between these two teams and with it being on a spotlight Thursday night and the "game of the week", it was primed to be a good one.  We went into the game full of energy, a great game plan and ENTHUSIASM.  We broke out to a 17-7 lead at the half, squandering away opportunities to put this team away.  Unfortunately, one of the plays prior to the half, we suffered an injury to our 3rd year starting quarterback.  He is honestly thee toughest kid I may ever coach in my career, but this night, an injury of a kidney bruise would not bring him back to us this evening to finish the game.  We had to put in our backup quarterback, who is my starting slot receiver and main play maker, but there definitely was a timing and consistency phase that altered our progression as an offense.  Short story made long (Haha) trying to stick to the same game plan with a different QB we blanked out in the 2nd half and came up short losing 24-17 (hence the 4-1) in district play.  The status of our starter was unknown and we have to find a way to persevere through the adversity we had to face this season.

With a full week of practice, extra film study and work with my back up, the offensive staff was able to put together a good game plan that had us a little restricted in the air but put up almost 400 yards rushing to get a win on homecoming night against Halls High School. This was our 2nd district win on the season keeping us 2nd in the district at 2-1 and overall 2-2.

The following week, we took a confident yet battered Wildcat team back on the road to face a very strong Maryville High School team.  State ranked in our region and known for winning multiple 6A championships in the last decade.  With our back up QB still in and another week of practice under his belt we felt good about the game plan and what we had coming into the game.  Unfortunately, this talented team with several division 1 commits put a beating on us giving us our 3rd overall loss and leaving us emotionally beat down but happy to be looking forward to only district games from this point on.

Me and my QB doing a pre-game prayer

Starting our road trip of the next 3 district games on the road, we went into this game, having our starter back at about 75% but yet a game plan and positive emotional state that we felt would give our team a boost.  As we were yet another team's scheduled homecoming, we took our show on the road to Anderson County in which we came out and put up the most point we have scored since I have been here and only in 3 quarters (49 points).  We were party busters on homecoming and got another big district win of 49-20 I believe giving us an overall record of 3-3 and having high hopes of going on the road for the next two weeks and being in control of our own destiny as it pertains to the postseason.

THE SYNOPSIS' ARE GETTING SMALLER AS I CONTINUE ON BECAUSE OF FATIGUE, LOL.

Anyways, moving from the past to the present, we took our show on the road once again to district foes, Karns High School in which we were looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season.  With a completely healthy quarterback back and packages within our offense that made us extremely explosive, our high powered offense were out to make a statement.  And that we did, scoring 35 points in the first half with two turnovers (which should have made it 49 points) and causing a running clock for the remainder of the game.  We got yet another district win, 35-14 and continue to be in the driver's seat of our destiny at 4-3 overall (4-1 in our district).

We are very happy with our progress at the moment and are hoping that our team continues the hard work they have put in and the trust they have in their coaches.  With this mindset and winnable games in place we will continue to ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE and do what it takes to make this season what we want it to be and continue our hopes to a postseason.


This should have me caught up from the past month.  Thanks for reading this.  As always, if you get a chance please share with someone else, choose to follow this blog or just continue to check it out.

Thanks for tuning in and STAY THIRSTY my friends.