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An undermanned Sarcoxie Bears football team pushed Miller, the No. 5 team in Missouri Class 1, around early in the first half last week, but in the end, mistakes cost the Bears.
Sarcoxie’s Aaron Parsons rushed 10 times for 83 yards and Nate Bloss caught three passes for 27 yards, but turnovers were the key to sinking Sarcoxie’s hopes of ruining Miller’s home opener.
“It was a very hard fought game,” said Sarcoxie Head Coach Jeff Kabance. “We played well. We had a couple of turnovers early in the game that kind of turned the momentum around and I think that’s crucial, you can’t make mistakes against a solid football team. They’re fifth in the state and they’re very solid. I thought we played hard, we just couldn’t execute when we needed to get in the end zone.”
The Bears, who had trouble finishing off drives last week against Miller, went back to work this week to prepare for Pleasant Hope, the final game of a three-game set on the road.
Sarcoxie takes on Pleasant Hope at 7 p.m. Friday at Pleasant Hope High School.
LAST YEAR
It may not have been a must-win game for the Bears, but they certainly played like it.
The Bears managed to come away with their first win of the season by trouncing visiting Pleasant Hope 34-16 at Sarcoxie High School.
The Bears, who had problems finishing off drives through the first two games last season, were able to get on the board first when David Maggard punched it in for six points from 1-yard out.
From there, the Bears would expose Pleasant Hope’s 4-3, cover four defense.
The Bears scored 14 points in the second half to take a 20-8 lead at the break.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SARCOXIE
Despite not capitalizing on early opportunities, Kabance was pleased with the way his team battled Miller, giving the Cardinals everything they could handle before finally succumbing 21-0.
“Quite frankly, we held them to seven in the first half and those are good things,” Kabance said. “We’ve got some positives, we’ve got to make sure we focus on the things we need to improve.”
Kabance knows his team is going to face a physical Pleasant Hope team that will try to establish the run. The good news: Sarcoxie’s defense has limited opponents to an average of 19.5 per game this season and less than 300 yards off total offense per game. Alex Baldwin, who has recorded 21 tackles — a team high — this season, has proven his worth this season, thus far.
An undermanned Sarcoxie Bears football team pushed Miller, the No. 5 team in Missouri Class 1, around early in the first half last week, but in the end, mistakes cost the Bears.
Sarcoxie’s Aaron Parsons rushed 10 times for 83 yards and Nate Bloss caught three passes for 27 yards, but turnovers were the key to sinking Sarcoxie’s hopes of ruining Miller’s home opener.
“It was a very hard fought game,” said Sarcoxie Head Coach Jeff Kabance. “We played well. We had a couple of turnovers early in the game that kind of turned the momentum around and I think that’s crucial, you can’t make mistakes against a solid football team. They’re fifth in the state and they’re very solid. I thought we played hard, we just couldn’t execute when we needed to get in the end zone.”
The Bears, who had trouble finishing off drives last week against Miller, went back to work this week to prepare for Pleasant Hope, the final game of a three-game set on the road.
Sarcoxie takes on Pleasant Hope at 7 p.m. Friday at Pleasant Hope High School.
LAST YEAR
It may not have been a must-win game for the Bears, but they certainly played like it.
The Bears managed to come away with their first win of the season by trouncing visiting Pleasant Hope 34-16 at Sarcoxie High School.
The Bears, who had problems finishing off drives through the first two games last season, were able to get on the board first when David Maggard punched it in for six points from 1-yard out.
From there, the Bears would expose Pleasant Hope’s 4-3, cover four defense.
The Bears scored 14 points in the second half to take a 20-8 lead at the break.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SARCOXIE
Despite not capitalizing on early opportunities, Kabance was pleased with the way his team battled Miller, giving the Cardinals everything they could handle before finally succumbing 21-0.
“Quite frankly, we held them to seven in the first half and those are good things,” Kabance said. “We’ve got some positives, we’ve got to make sure we focus on the things we need to improve.”
Kabance knows his team is going to face a physical Pleasant Hope team that will try to establish the run. The good news: Sarcoxie’s defense has limited opponents to an average of 19.5 per game this season and less than 300 yards off total offense per game. Alex Baldwin, who has recorded 21 tackles — a team high — this season, has proven his worth this season, thus far.
Kabance said he would still like to see more balance from the Bears in their game Friday in Pleasant Hope.
“We’re not a passing team, I’d like to think we’re a little bit more balanced than we have been but we’re not,” Kabance said. “We’re not a drop-back passing team, we’re an option run team first. It’s the breaks of the game, some of them didn’t go our way and they’re a very good football team.”
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PLEASANT HOPE
The Bears had their fair share of problems, but nothing like Pleasant Hope. The Pirates, under first-year head coach Scott Reeves, have scored only 14 points this season. The Pirates, who have not won a game since 2006, feature a spread offense, with quarterback Jeff Todd (6-foot-2, 160-pounds) under center.
Pleasant Hope, which faced Sarcoxie for the first time last year, returns seniors Austin Ausbury and Max Pena to the offensive line. Both players earned all-conference accolades last season.
