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Midweek report: Tigers prep for WCC showdown with Smith-Cotton
Friday night’s clash on the gridiron between the Nevada Tigers and visiting Smith-Cotton High School has major West Central Conference ramifications.
The Tigers enter at 2-2 overall and 2-1 in WCC-play, while undefeated Smith-Cotton (4-0) is 1-0 in the WCC.
Smith-Cotton’s flex option offense, led by senior tailback Zach Powell, has been tough on opposing defenses this season. After opening the season with a narrow 7-6 victory over Moberly, Smith-Cotton flexed its muscle in week two, flattening Marshall 62-28.
Smith-Cotton then delivered a 34-12 beatdown of Warrensburg in week three, followed by a 35-14 week four win over the Pleasant Hill Roosters, in which Smith-Cotton led 28-0 at halftime.
Coming off a 62-8 thumping of St. Michael’s, Nevada is ready for the challenge, with the Tigers only conference loss coming in week three to St. Pius.
In addition, the Tigers season-opening performance against Seneca is looking even more impressive. Nevada led 14-0 in the non conference road matchup before Seneca stormed back for the 28-20 victory. The Indians are now 4-0 on the season and ranked No. 6 in Class 3.
“This game is another opportunity to make up for some mistakes in the past,” Tigers head coach Wes Beachler told the Daily Mail after Tuesday’s practice. “We can’t go back and do St. Pius over, but we can forge ahead with what we’ve got lying ahead of us. And there’s a couple of big conference games coming up that can put us in a good position.”
Beachler said he would give his team a B-minus on its midseason report card.
“We’re lacking confidence; I’m not sure where that comes from,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re a state championship caliber team, but I don’t think we’re a losing team. So we have to find that confidence and play with a little bit of swagger.”
Added Beachler: “And I don’t think we’re executing as well as we will be in another two or three weeks, so (the B-minus) is where I would put us at right now.”
Beachler said Smith-Cotton’s undefeated start is no fluke.
“They’re a legit 4-0,” said the veteran coach. “Sometimes you see 4-0 and, depending on who they played, it can be a legit 4-0 or it can be, ‘well, they haven’t played much.’ But they’ve played a pretty tough schedule, and they’re a pretty good football team.”
Beachler continued: “They play fast, are very aggressive defensively, and fly to the ball. Offensively, they’re very sound in what they do.”
A key for the Tigers will be their ability to pick up Smith-Cotton’s blitz packages.
“They blitz a lot and we have to be able to handle that,” said Beachler.
Beachler said he believes the Tigers have been the more physical team in each of their four games.
“Smith-Cotton will challenge that,” he said, “because they’re very physical.”
Beachler said it’s been a solid week of practice to this point.
“(Monday) was a little bit shaky; there was a lot of install going on, but it was a good practice,” he said. “We slowed things down, and walked through the (Smith-Cotton) blitz packages. I thought (Tuesday’s) practice was a lot better. We got off to a fast start offensively, and I thought our defense kept up its intensity.”
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s practice, with his players huddled around, Beachler had one overriding message for his squad: “First place in the conference is on the line Friday night.”