Britt, Brooks: 'Fresh legs' important for season-opening game

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 22, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

During its previous two meetings against county football rival Charles B. Aycock, Rosewood has struggled to put fresh legs on the field in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Falcons, on each occasion, pulled away for the win.

With six two-way starters in the lineup, eighth-year RHS head coach Robert Britt faces the same dilemma when the teams meet tonight at Branch Pope Field.

Oh, but he's not alone.

Aycock will start several two-way performers as well, which may leave both coaches searching for fresh bodies when the final 12 minutes are loaded onto the scoreboard.

"I feel like they're going to have more depth than we have," said Britt, who is 0-7 in season-opening games. "If we can be just a little more fresh by the time the fourth comes compared to what we have the last two years, we might have a chance.

"We can't expect those kids to play both ways the whole game. We're going to depend on some guys to come in and give those starters who start both ways some rest."

The Golden Falcons have won eight straight meetings in the series, which began in the mid-1970s. It's the 16th time the two teams have opened the season against each other.

The players must temper their emotions since they're friends with each other off of the field.

Britt has reminded his squad that it's "team first" this week.

"Don't bring anything into the game that doesn't need to be in the game," said Britt. "Play every play and remember that you're playing for the name on your shirt and not for yourself. You're playing for the brother beside you and not yourself.

"Don't do anything that's going to jeopardize your or jeopardize your team's effort to be successful."

The Eagles expect Golden Falcons quarterback TJ Morrow to factor into every offensive play. Britt said the senior is a dual threat against any defense and that his team must limit Aycock's big-play capability.

Second-year CBA head coach Steve Brooks said his team must run the ball, protect Morrow and prepare for a gritty Rosewood squad that's learning a spread offense. He's depending on the Golden Falcons' defensive speed and athleticism to help contain the Eagles' attack.

"You've got to get ready for everything," Brooks said.

Brooks said last Friday's scrimmages against defending 1-AA state champion James Kenan and perennial 3-A power Wilson Fike were eye-opening experiences. He also noted that four running backs -- R'Keesh Greene, Tim Farmer, Tyreke Ford and Caleb Gough -- are starting to absorb the playbook and understand their responsibilities in pass-blocking situations.

"It's kind of a competition between those guys now because they know anyone can step into their spot," Brooks said. "They've gotten hungrier now ... willing to hit the hole hard and go. Going against other teams that play lights out, it showed the guys the speed of the game and how hard they need to go."