Focused Rosewood takes on county foe Spring Creek

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on October 23, 2015 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

Staying focused is not a problem for Rosewood's football team.

The Eagles learned that lesson after upsetting No. 1-ranked James Kenan and then dropping a 30-point road loss at Lakewood the following week.

Spring Creek comes calling Friday.

"I thought the kids have done a really good job to stay focused," Rosewood head coach Robert Britt said. "When you beat a team -- the caliber of James Kenan -- who at the time was ranked number one in the state, you have a lot of people want to talk about it.

"I thought our kids did a great job coming back the next week, working hard and getting ready for a good Lakewood team, who ended up beating us the next week. The kids didn't let that bother them."

As the Eagles (6-3 overall, 3-1 Carolina 1-A) concentrate on the game ahead, the Gators (2-6, 0-3) look to turn their season around.

Spring Creek lost to conference foes Hobbton and Princeton, and looks to snap a six-game skid after a 2-0 start to the season. On the horizon is an Oct. 30 contest against James Kenan.

"That was a huge game (against James Kenan) for them (Rosewood)," Sanders said. "A great win for Coach Britt and his program. I think the kids (Gators) are preparing for the challenge. They're excited about playing Rosewood. It's definitely a game that the kids are preparing for.

"The kids are going to be ready to play."

The Gators must contain Rosewood's three-prong attack -- running back Mike Woodard, dual-threat quarterback Cameron Helt and athlete Marquail Al-montaser. Woodard has rushed for an area-leading 1,200 yards. Helt has rambled for 769 yards and thrown for another 570 yards.

Al-montaser, a state track champion, has amassed more than 600 yards and pulled in nine touchdown passes.

Britt believes his team is ready as well. He also understands the depth of the Gators, who will attempt to put their most athletic players in position to create problems for the Eagles' defense.

"They're (Spring Creek) dangerous," Britt said. "They got two quarterbacks. Both have their special skill set. One's probably a little bit better passer, and the other one's a little bit better runner.

"They got three or four guys that can catch the ball. They're dangerous."

Jessie Casper has accounted for nearly 1,000 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns for the Gators. Freshman Landon Smothers threw for a career-high 128 yards last week and spread the receptions among four receivers -- Dominique Morse, Jamarion Dawson, Najee Young and Casper.

Dawson leads the team with 401 receiving yards.