Home Sweet Home
By Rick Hollenbeck
September 15, 2006
by Rick Hollenbeck
Aww how good it feels to finally be home. After beginning the season in the gofridaynight.com Champions Classic and the long road trip to Iowa Park, the Wylie Bulldogs look to perform for a packed house tonight against former district rival Graham. The Steers limp into town 0-2 after losses to Midland Greenwood and fellow 7-3A member Clyde. Coach Hugh Sandifer’s Bulldogs look to continue their winning ways and build on last week’s 21-7 defeat of the Iowa Park Hawks to even the season record at 1-1.
Graham missed the playoffs last season after losing in Iowa Park on the final Friday of the regular season. That loss and a Breckenridge win over Vernon kept first year head coach Brad McCoy’s Steers out of the postseason, a place unfamiliar to Graham players and fans. McCoy, father of University of Texas starting quarterback Colt McCoy, has installed his pass-happy offense and attacking defensive philosophy into a program that lived by the run before his arrival. Leading this wide-open offensive scheme is Freshman QB Case McCoy. Having a familiar target isn’t commonplace when your a freshman quarterback but when your go to guy is your older brother Chance McCoy things can only get better. Chance McCoy enjoyed success in his first two season of varsity action. Chance was named all state as a sophomore at 2A Jim Ned High School, and garnered similar honors last season in the 3A ranks as a Steer. While Graham has struggled early this season look for the Steers to come out firing tonight against the Bulldogs who gave up 30 points last September in Graham.
Running the opening kick-off back 90+ yards is the way every team would like to start a game and Cameron Rogers did just that against a small but tough Iowa Park special teams unit last week. Wylie hopes to continue to ride that momentum into this weeks contest. The 30-20 defeat at the hands of the Steers last season should serve as some motivation but when you reload your roster with the next class of seniors, as Coach Sandifer does each fall, the memory might be short for this years squad. Look for the Bulldogs to establish the running game early to keep the Steers offense off of the field. With a stable of capable running backs Sandifer will able to keep pounding the ball, but history tells us he will still take his shots down the field to keep the Steer defense honest. Speed has been an issue for Graham in their first two contests and Wylie QB Gary Edwards just happens to posses plenty. Look for Edwards to stretch the defense horizontally and TB Russell Felts to batter the defensive line and linebackers.
Defensively, Wylie must keep the Steers vaunted attack from gaining momentum. Linebacker play has been phenomenal thus far and their pressure and coverage skills will be essential against the pass. The defense has shown a propensity to fly to the ball and punish ball carriers. Defensive line play will also be a key in tonight’s game. Keeping QB McCoy on his heels with constant pressure will be vital if the Bulldogs hope to come away with the victory. Defensive pressure will also help force mistakes and this game will be decided by mistakes. Both teams are fairly evenly matched and limiting mistakes and turnovers will decide tonight’s victor.
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