Expectations on the rise in Bear Country

[KFDM COOP]

Expectations on the rise in Bear Country

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

LITTLE CYPRESS — Every team in high school football has high hopes at this point in the season.

Every team is 0-0 and knows with the right attitude and work habits a berth in the playoffs is not far fetched.

The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears are a team this year that is very, very excited.

A 5-5 team from a year ago, the Bears have plenty of reasons to be excited about 2007 and the possibility of making the playoffs in District 22-4A.

Four starters are back on both offense and defense and several of the players are keys to LC-M’s success.

Coach Todd Moody, in his third year at LC-M, likes what he has seen with the Bears so far and knows a lot of people are expecting exciting times this year.

“I expect our kids to do like they have always done — don’t beat ourselves,†Moody said. “We have a great chance to be in the mix just like all the other teams.â€

Moody has installed a serious attitude of team chemistry within the Bears in his three years and the players on the team now are his guys.

The 47 players on the roster have been around Moody and his system is starting to take affect.

“You can see the players really want it,†Moody added. “Down the line you can tell we will be disappointed if we are not in the mix. I really know this will be a fun team to coach and we are going to go on a journey together.â€

Bear Country hopes the journey ends with a trip to the playoffs, a finishing point LC-M has not seen since the 1997 season when the Bears fell to La Marque regional semifinals, 41-20.

Most of the current players on LC-M were barely in elementary school at that time.

Moody knows the road will be tough in 22-4A with Dayton and Central projected to lead the pack.

Teams like Beaumont Ozen, Port Neches-Groves and Nederland are also expected to fight for the third playoff spot.

“I think we have our best chance to compete this year than any before since I arrived,†Moody added. “The kids have really bought into the system and the coaches and kids have all come together.â€

The Bears averaged 19.4 points a game a season ago and averaged 281.2 yards a contest.

One of the main returning starters for the Bears will be senior quarterback President Driver.

Driver, who overcame a neck injury last year to play in nine games, threw for 916 yards a season ago with 10 touchdowns. He completed 54.7 percent of his passes on 46-of-84 passing with just six interceptions.

“President has become a lot more mature since last season,†Moody said. “He is more confident in our offense and he is also our captain on offense. He is stepping up as our leader.â€

Senior Logan Tarver will be the backup quarterback.

Last year’s running game saw Kendrex Salter, now a senior, become an exciting runner who could spin and turn with the best of them.

He cruised for nine touchdowns and 722 yards on 127 carries with a 5.7 yards average.

Moody said Salter has worked hard since last year to become more of a complete runner, instead of just always seeking the home run.

“He also has become a lot more mature,†Moody added. “Kendrex is blocking a lot more and is learning to run downhill instead of just juking everyone. It will be important for him to pick up first downs.â€

Senior Chris Guy will join Salter in the backfield.

“Chris ran the scout team everyday last year and gave us great looks,†Guy said. “Now he is faster and stronger. I look for both guys to have a great year. I hope it turns into a two-headed monster for us.â€

At receiver the Bears return one of the more exciting catchers around with senior Phillip Richard.

Richard had a monster yards-per-catch average with 26.1 yards a reception. He caught seven passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.

Joining Richard will be senior James Miller as the main two catchers on the Bears’ roster.

“Those are two talented receivers,†Moody said. “Phillip is a playmaker all over the field. We hope to get those two guys involved in the offense a lot this year.â€

All six-feet, five-inches of Jake Tsuchiya will also be looked upon as a threat and Justin King will also be in the mix.

“We are going to look for Jake to get involved a lot,†Moody said. “Tony Gunn, who is injured at the moment, will be our swing guy. He will be there some at tailback and receiver.â€

Senior Chad Richard will make the move from guard to tight end and give Driver have big target to look for in the middle of the field.

“Chad and Stefan Leger will both be at tight end and are hard to stop once they get going,†Moody added. “We are always looking to use the tight end in some fashion.â€

Five guys over the 200-pound mark will be giving the runners holes to barrel through and giving Driver plenty of time to look for the open man.

Gary Hooker leads the way at six-feet, two-inches and 225 pounds. Justin Edwards and Eric Blem each weigh in at 210, Frank Snoody is at 215 and Shayne Seago weighs at 200 pounds. Hooker, Snoddy and Blem are each juniors while Edwards and Seago are seniors.

“These guys are young and inexperienced,†Moody said. “The scrimmages helped to get some reps and they are learning to use their hands and facemasks as tools. We are getting better in that spot.â€

On defense the Bears had a great season in 2006 giving up just 272.9 yards a game and 14 points a contest.

One of the main contributors to that defense is back in senior linebacker Joseph Viator.

In Moody’s 4-3 defense, Viator along with Darius Bob and Howard Griffith will have the chance to roam around and wreck havoc.

Leger and Salter will also be looked at as linebackers.

“These guys can go get the football,†Moody said. “Everyone knows about Viator and he is the leader. I can already say we are going to miss him a year from now. He understands the defense and nobody is perfect but he can sure cover the football pretty greatly on defense.â€

Moody also expects big things on the defensive line which returns All-District selection Jared Winbush. Brandon Thompson, Chad Humphrey, Chad Richard, Kyle Stroman and Edwards will shore up the line.

“We are way ahead on our defensive line than in the past,†Moody said. “We are on station and looking much better.â€

Chuch Mullins, a transfer from Ohio, will also be looked at for the defensive line.

Moody’s philosophy in the secondary will be to play in halves and in District 22-4A, the corners and safeties will be put to the test.

“They are going to hustle,†Moody said. “We can’t let our opponents score on one play.â€

Michael Green and Justin McCarver will be the Bears’ corners while Thompson and Phillip Richard will be the safeties.

So with all the pieces in place, now the Bears will look to put them all together and hope the puzzle spells the word “playoffs.â€

“You can put Dayton on top right along with Central,†Moody added. “Ozen is always talented, Nederland has been there for 10 straight years and PN-G has great tradition. That is the team we want to be. No matter the talent level at those schools, they are going to compete. That is what we are trying to have at LC-M.

“The ultimate respect for a program is to not look at talent but to respect the whole program. We are absolutely on the right track so far. The talent will come and go but our philosophy will stay the same.â€

[Guest Indian Chief]

Da Bears will be tough but we'll take em down i hope.

[lcm2007ms]

should be an exciting season, i'm expecting a lot out of these guys. everyone mentioned is going to be exciting to watch. i cant wait to see how all these guys have improved.

[dav-joel]

LCM is always a pesky problem and will be in the riunning for that #3 position

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Dayton

Central

LC-M or NED