Cobras have ‘tough challenge’ ahead
After renovating their offense in practice and defeating the Dover Pirates 56-0 last Friday, the Fountain Lake Cobras are heading into conference ready to take on Joe T. Robinson.
The Senators (3-0, 0-0 4A-7) defeated the Cobras (1-2, 0-0) last season 28-6 in a game that was called at halftime due to weather. The Senators went on to win the conference title before losing to Arkadelphia in the Class 4A state title game in December.
Fountain Lake first-year head coach Kenny Shelton knows that the Cobras have a tough fight ahead, especially with several key players injured and on the sidelines.
“We’ve had a good week of practice,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’ve got a couple of injuries, which is not a good thing for a team that’s short on players to begin with, but we’re as prepared as we can be. Joe T. is a good quality team. They’re very athletic, very fast. It’s gonna be a tough challenge.”
Junior running back and safety Asa Westerman is out with an injury this week, but Shelton is optimistic despite missing a few members of the team. Offensively, Westerman has tallied 23 carries for 72 yards while reeling in five catches for 47 yards, and he has 10 solo stops with 11 assisted tackles on defense.
“He is a starter on both sides of the ball for us, and then we’ve got a couple others,” he said. “[Senior defensive lineman] Matthew Harty, [sophomore defensive lineman] Gordon Hoople, a couple of guys that rotate in for us a little bit as lineman. They’re gonna be out as well.
“It’s been a little difficult with some of the injuries out and trying to have enough to give a good look. The kids that have been dressing out have been working hard like always. We’ve got a good group of kids that are still showing up everyday doing everything that we ask them.”
Shelton is impressed with the fact that several players have stepped up to bring the team together and increase morale.
“Our same old kids that have been good leaders for us all year [are stepping up],” he said. “[Junior quarterback] Jack Wurz and [sophomore running back] Steven DeArmon, [junior wide receiver] Seth Hughes and [junior running back] Owen Barthel, the same group of core kids. They
just kind of rally around each other trying to prepare the best we can.”
Wurz is 9-for-20 passing for 145 yards with 13 rushes for 28 yards. DeArmon has recorded 34 touches for 111 yards and three receptions, Hughes has 16 carries for 149 yards and one reception, and Barthel has 36 carries for 188 yards.
With a roster sporting over 60 athletes, Robinson has multiple players that the Cobras are aiming to shut down. Junior quarterback Buddy Gaston is 39-for-72 passing for 771 yards and has 12 carries for 44 yards. Junior running back Hunter Smith has 50 carries for 485 yards and 22 stops defensively.
“They’re very athletic, and they’ve got a lot of weapons,” Shelton mentioned. “They are by far one of the fastest, more athletic teams that we’ve seen.”
The Cobras have been focusing on installing the Wing-T and are hoping to capitalize off making some changes to a scheme that will help them more in the long run.
“You know, we’re gonna try to play a physical brand of football, control the clock, use every second of the clock we can, and try to minimize Joe T.’s possessions,” Shelton said. “We’ve got to be able to convert fourth downs and convert when we get inside the red zone, no turnovers. And this week, especially this week, we’ve got to gang tackle, and it’s gonna take several guys to fly to the football, and hopefully that will give us the best opportunity to try to get a win.”
Shelton is looking for his team to “set the tone” in the first five to 10 minutes of the game.
“Hopefully we can get the ball first and be able to have a decent drive even if we’re not able to punch it in,” he said. “If we can take 6 or 7 minutes off the clock and try to keep their potent offense off of the field, we can try to gain a little confidence.”
Kickoff is set for tonight at 7 p.m. at Allen Tillery Field.