The Hornets are 1-0, coming off a 28-24 win against Cooper under new coach Wilson Rigg. Azle is coming off a 2-8 season and like the Roos, hope to turn things around and make it to the playoffs in a new district.
Last year, the teams met for a shootout in which the Roos came out on top 42-41. With both teams featuring new coaches and offensive schemes, a similar type game is not out of the question.
The biggest change comes offensively as the Hornets line up in a spread offense and look to pass the ball around a lot more than it did a season ago. In its first game, Azle attempted 39 passes compared to just 13 rushes, seeing much more success through the air with 185 yards compared to just 21 yards on the ground.
With that in mind, Weatherford knows the best way to cause havoc against a passing offense is getting a good pass rush, which Williams is hopeful his line can create. However, the Hornets offense doesn’t always allow for pass rush to get there.
“They are going to try and get the ball out quick,” Williams said. “We need to be really good tacklers in space. People think you need to throw the ball down the field to be effective, but you don’t. They are going to throw the ball behind the line of scrimmage, five yards, 10 yards. We have to rally to the football and be upset when we get there.”
The main weapon from the first week for Azle is Brayden Combs as the receiver scored three of the Hornets’ four touchdowns while leading the team with 11 catches for 85 yards. Quarterback Auston Morgan did show a willingness to look deep on two of his four touchdown passes in Week 1.
On offense, Weatherford is hoping it can similarly test Azle’s secondary. Williams had several compliments for the Hornets linebacking core, which is the team’s strength playing a 3-4 base defense.
“We are going to have to make them defend the field 53 yards wide,” Williams said. “We also need to be better with the ball in our hands, make them miss tackles and be explosive.”
With quarterback Braelyn Jones starting his second varsity game, Williams hopes he learns to take what the defense gives him so the team can avoid turnovers. The offense committed two in their first game and it led to 10 points.
Getting that first, first down in an offensive drive is key in the Roos offensive success since that is when the pace of play can start to have an effect on defenses.
Most of all, Williams and the team is excited for another opportunity to go get a win after playing a good final three quarters in the opening game against Burleson Centennial.
“I don’t know what the past is here, and I don’t really care,” Williams said. “I do know that those kids earned a lot of respect from Centennial, from the people in the crowd, people in this community. I think they are proud of the effort they gave.”
With that in mind, Williams is trying different practice approaches this week to try and make sure his team does not come out flat at the start of the game.
“To begin practice (Tuesday), we went right into offense versus defense instead of doing it at the end,” Williams said. “The purpose of that was not to beat each other up, but to signal the game is starting now. You have to get ready. Not later on, not in period eight. Right now.”
The Roos are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 at Azle.
First Quarter
BC – Ben Chavarria 14 run (Rios kick), 10:47
BC – Ben Chavarria 2 run (Rios kick), 6:38
BC – BJ Reece 30 run (Rios kick), 3:39
W – Jakob Hemphill 75 run (Marino kick), 3:20
Second Quarter
BC – Tyler Davis 3 pass from Derringer Adrion (Rios kick), :08
Third Quarter
W – D.J. Quemby 4 run (Ruiz kick), 8:11
BC – Santiago Rios 23 field goal, 2:34
Fourth Quarter
W – D.J. Quemby 4 run (Ruiz kick), 6:11
Individual Statistics
Rushing-Weatherford Kangaroos, D.J. Quimby 19-100, Jakob Hemphill 1-75, Braelyn Jones 10-28, Caylin Pope 3-13. Centennial Spartans, Tyler Davis 5-59, BJ Reece 2-45, Adrion Derringer 12-41, Ben Chavarria 12-31, Jaxson Deaton 4-29, Aston Whiteside 1-17, Hunter Lee 3-10, Kale McLendon 2-3.
Passing-Weatherford Kangaroos, Braelyn Jones 15-21-1-112. Centennial Spartans, Derringer Adrion 4-6-1-45.
Receiving-Weatherford Kangaroos, Jakob Hemphill 7-50, Reed Tidwell 3-29, Elijah Garrett 2-23, D.J. Quimby 1-9, Austin Moore 1-5, Caylin Pope 1-(-4). Centennial Spartans, Deaton Jaxson 2-34, BJ Reece 1-8, Tyler Davis 1-3.
Defensive leaders-Weatherford Kangaroos, Ace Feriend 12 tackles, Hunter Ferguson 1 interception.
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