PREP FOOTBALL: Gators face much-improved Devilpups squad

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 25, 2017 5:53 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A defense that limited run-oriented South Lenoir to a single touchdown in its wing-T scheme last week, Spring Creek has a different challenge tonight.

Watch No. 10.

Lejeune junior Desmond Johnson, a dual-threat quarterback, caught interim head coach Daniel Robinson's attention when he viewed game film.

"They're much improved from last year," Robinson said. "They've got a kid, I don't remember his name, but he's number 10 ... tall, athletic kid who scrambles and can throw. We're going to have to contain him."

Bear Grass Charter handcuffed Johnson much of the opening half before he displayed his athleticism in the second half. Johnson and Matthew Peterson hooked up for a 25-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown.

The Devilpups lost 34-8.

Robinson credited his defensive staff for breaking down game film in previous seasons against South Lenoir, and getting the players in the right spots to make good plays.

That game plan doesn't change this week.

The only tweak, says Robinson, is to revamp the secondary -- add some speed to cover Lejeune's receivers and hopefully keep Johnson in the pocket longer.

"We're going to have to transition well after seeing a wing-T team and now facing a spread-type offensive team," Robinson said.

SC's offense bore the brunt of this week's practices.

Holding and false-start penalties, correctable mistakes according to Robinson, stopped the Gators on two occasions.

First-year quarterback Collion Kittrell accounted for 185 all-purpose yards and two TDs. SC amassed 344 yards of total offense -- 221 on the ground.

"We've got to sustain blocks up front better," Robinson said. "Not just rely on our athletes to break one when our plays break down. We have to be more consistent in our blocking techniques and open some running lanes."

The Gators are 3-3 all-time against Devilpups and have won three straight in the series.

A look back:

• The Gators converted three turnovers into 19 points and the defense made 22 stops either at or behind the line of scrimmage in a 58-0 win last season at "The Swamp." The Devilpups managed just two yards of total offense.

Brandon Wood-Potter emerged as the defensive general with 10 tackles and three quarterback sacks.

SC converted eight of nine offensive possessions into TDs.

The 58 points were a single-game school record.