Sports
Tigers look to bounce back against Ellison Eagles
Friday, 19 October 2012 by David Tuma
Belton quarterback Peter Shelburne looks for an open receiver against Harker Heights last week.Belton hosts Killeen Ellison for homecoming Friday at Tiger Field. Ellison hasn't won a game heading into Friday's game but the Tigers are banged up on offense. Belton's defense is giving up less than 10 points a game heading into homecoming.
The Eagles offense loads up the offensive line of scrimmage bringing in an extra offensive lineman in a wing-t type formation. At times they also bring in a tightend on the weak side of the formation.
It is a two-back formation that the Ealges use headed by running backs Kaimen Roberson and Isiah Cowen. Tightend Caleb Moses is very physically talented. When Ellison passes they use short routes with screens and inside slants. Quarterback Rasheed Dashiell likes to run the ball. Cowen is bigger and stronger this year and the Eagles use him as the focus of the offense.
"They got down last week but they could run the football. Last week we let Heights hang around and a team thinks they are okay when you do that. Harker Heights beat us. If you don't score you don't win. They were disappointed after the loss but I don't worry about this group's attitude. Ellison's offense has put them in some bad spots with turnovers. They made some plays against Midway but had too many mistakes," said Tigers coach Rodney Southern.
On defense the Eagles us the same 3-3 stacked that Belton likes to use. Belton runs against that type of defense every day in practice. They have a big nose guard and the defensive linemen like to slant and tie up as many offensive linemen as they can opening up the linebackers to make plays.
The secondary runs a lot of cover-3 and cover-2. They use a lot of zone coverages.
The Tigers have some injuries in the backfield heading into the game with Kyle Adamson out and three skill position players dealing with ankle or knee issues.
Against two good defenses in Stony Point and Harker Heights, the Tigers had multiple turnovers and didn't score very many points. The key for this week is getting something positive going on offense and try to work on controlling the ball better heading into games against Temple and Cove.
Belton can't overlook Ellison as Heights proved last week. Better pass protection from quarterback Peter Shelburne's back side and cutting down on turnovers is something the Tigers must getter better at in a hurry.
Look for Belton to rebound for homecoming and get something positive things going heading into the crucial part of the season in weeks six and seven.
