Pats show progress in scrimmage


Thursday, August 13, 2009
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Pats show progress in scrimmage

By BARRY BURLESON
Editor

Photo by Ronnie Day

Avoiding the tackle

Marshall Academy ball-carrier Tyler Childers tries to shed a Tunica Blue Devil during a scrimmage Friday evening in Holly Springs.

Coach Keith Wicker’s critique of his Marshall Academy football team after a Friday scrimmage versus Tunica Academy was cautiously optimistic.

“I was pleased for the most part,” he said.

The Patriots hosted the Blue Devils, led by a former member of the MA coaching staff, Jimmy Hicks.

There was no scoreboard in this one, which was played on the MA practice field, but it ended up in the vicinity of 42-12 in favor of the Pats.

“There were a lot of missed tackles, and our execution was not what I wanted, but for a scrimmage, it was all OK,” Wicker said.

“We can correct our mistakes. The effort was there.

“We’re out of shape. The kids saw they can’t play a whole ball game.”

Wicker and his staff are installing a new no-huddle offense.

“The timing was not there at times,” he said, “but they’re understanding it better. Like I said in last week’s article, we have to block and tackle.”

He enters the season concerned about his linemen. The scrimmage put some of those fears to rest.

“Seven linemen played a lot (in the scrimmage), and I think they did well,” Wicker said.

Marshall will continue the “practice games” games Thursday night when they host a jamboree in Holly Springs.

The schedule follows – 6 p.m., Indianola vs. Rossville, Tenn.; 6:30 p.m., North Delta vs. Kirk; 7 p.m., Indianola vs. Marshall; 7:30 p.m., North Delta vs. Rossville; 8 p.m. Marshall vs. Kirk.

The regular season kicks off Friday night, Aug. 21, when MA travels to Rossville.

Photo by Ronnie Day

Shoe-string tackle
Josh Vanderburg (8) of Marshall dives and trips up a Tunica ball-carrier during the scrimmage.

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