Falcons laying in a full flight plan for fall
After two straight winning seasons, missing playoffs both times, Jersey Village wants more
Jersey Village posted a winning record for the second straight year and still didn’t make the playoffs, extending its drought to eight years.
Coach David Snokhous said last season’s nearmiss came down to a couple of off nights.
“We were obviously disappointed because we didn’t make it, but it’s been a good offseason,” Snokous said. “Our kids have worked really hard. We think we’re going to be better, or have a chance to be better, and in this district you better because everybody else is.
“We’ve got to take care of business. We let ourselves down and didn’t do it a game or two and it really cost us.”
The Falcons began spring football April 27.
They wrap it up with their spring game, which is slate for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the high school, weather permitting.
Jersey Village had a seven-game winning streak going from the end of 2013, when it finished with a 42-0 win over Cypress Woods, to its 4-0 start last year, but that wasn’t enough to return to the playoffs.
A 28-24 loss to Cy Creek last season was particularly costly.
“It’s showing up and doing what you’re capable of doing,” Snokhous said. “You’ve got to be consistent every week, and you’ve got to play hard for 48 minutes, and if not you’re going to get beat.”
The priorities going into the spring were strength training and filling holes on defense.
The Falcons started a lot of sophomores a couple years back, so Snokhous also hopes their improvement is the difference.
“Our attitude’s been super, the kids have worked hard and shown good leadership, so the spring’s been good,” Snokhous said.
With eight starters back on offense, the goal is to improve in their schemes.
Snokhous said offense, with their experience and
the leadership of quarterback Deshun Qualls, will be their strength early on.
Qualls, a junior, showed great maturity over the last few games last season.
“He’s gotten bigger,” Snokhous said. “He’s probably gained 12 to 15 pounds, so that’s helped him.”
The Falcons still are looking for offensive linemen and defensive backs.
They have a handful of promising young linemen but they’re still unproven and under evaluation. The secondary is losing four players.
“I don’t know if we can ever replace them all, but we’re getting close,” Snokhous said.
Juwan Morgan, who will be a senior, is the only returning DB with experience, and he’s moving from corner to safety.
“He’s been there, so he knows what he’s doing,” Snokhous said. “He’s a good kid who works very hard, and he’s taken over the leadership role, which we needed.”
Snokhous said players like Morgan and Qualls will see only a handful of plays in the spring game.
“My guys I know can play aren’t going to play much. But some other kids we’re going to evaluate,” he said. “There’s some good competition going on, so I’m pleased with it right now.”
After the spring game the Flacons go right into the 7-on-7 season, beginning with a tournament May 30 at Cy Creek.
Qualls will put in work there, along with returning receivers Joshua Bland, Brandon Major, Rokeem Paul and Austin Lynch.
“The kids enjoy it,” Snokhous said. “Any time you get to go play and do some things that’s a good opportunity. From that standpoint, it’s fine. Does it make or break you as far as what happens in the fall? No. But our kids enjoy it and it’s fun to watch them compete.”
It’ll also give the team’s young secondary players a few extra snaps to get ready for another playoff push in District 17-6A.
“We’ll get some DB work in there, and we might bring some offensive guys over there to see if they can help us,” Snokhous said.