Seasoned line to back Rams’ green quarterbacks
The Hot Springs Lakeside Rams need to start off fast in conference play to contend for a playoff spot this season, said head coach Jared McBride, who is coming into his sixth year of leading the team and coming off a tough 2014 campaign, finishing 4-6 overall and fifth in the 5A South.
“We had several close games that we lost; we just couldn’t finish,” McBride said.
The experience from those losses that the Rams’ returning starters bring to the field this season may be their biggest asset, the coach said.
Senior Maurice Bradford (6-2, 200), who finished 2014 with 30 receptions and had 400 yards rushing, returns as a slot receiver and linebacker.
“He’s played every down for us since he’s been here as a sophomore,” McBride said.
With a similar history on the team, senior Josh Morton (5-11, 250), returns as a key player on the offensive line.
“We’re a Spread offense, two backs with a little bit of a power run game,” McBride said. “We like to spread the ball around, throw it around. We try to play fast or no huddle.”
Leading the Rams’ defense are seniors Kennedy King (5-10, 205), a middle linebacker who
has seen a lot of reps, and Caden Vaughan (511, 175), a defensive back who has also seen a lot of playing time over the past couple of years.
“All those guys are seniors,” McBride said. “They’ve played awhile; they understand what they are supposed to do, and they work well together.”
Expect the defense to take a 3-3 Stack formation, the coach said.
“It’s an aggressive style, blitzing defense, a kind of a risk-takers’ defense,” McBride said.
When it comes to the throwing game, the Rams aren’t as sure, starting with a pair of unproven quarterbacks in junior Fisher Alexander (6-1, 170) and sophomore Adam Saveall (6-0, 160).
“They just haven’t played on a Friday night yet. They’ve been JV guys,” McBride said.
Other areas where the team has long had struggles are with overall size and speed.
“We’re always the smallest and slowest on the field, so we’ve got to overcome by playing really sound football and playing hard on every play,” McBride said. “Our kids play hard and do what they are coached to do.”
While every conference game is important to the team, the coach said, Week 10, in which the Rams play their rival Hot Springs Trojans, is usually a critical one.
“That one is always a get in it and win and go to the playoffs, or lose and don’t,” McBride said.