El Dorado looked much improved in its 41-23 loss to Cabot last week compared to its 45-20 setback to Camden Fairview in the season opener. Getting better is the mission but getting victories is the ultimate goal for the Wildcats, who hit the road for the first time today with a short trip to Magnolia.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Although 0-2, El Dorado coach Steven Jones believes his team took a giant step forward last week. The Wildcats cannot afford a step backward tonight.
“Going into conference play, we’ve got to have a win. We’ve got to win the game to have something positive to build on moving into conference play,” Jones said. “Our kids are eager to get back out there.”
El Dorado tinkered with its formations and personnel and discovered a balanced offensive attack last week. Mistakes, including three turnovers, one at the goal line, loomed large against 7A Cabot, which also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the win.
But Jones thinks the improvements made should carry over to tonight’s game and the rest of the season.
“First of all, we were just overall better. We played better offensively. We played better defensively for the majority of the game. We just gave up some big plays,” he said. “Overall performance, better than week one for sure. Definitely not where we want to be yet but, overall, better than week one.”
Magnolia brings a 2-1 record into tonight’s game. The Panthers opened the season with a 42-35 loss to Harrison before stopping Crossett 16-6 and Little Rock Christian 52-49 last week.
The Panthers use a run-oriented option attack.
“Little Rock Christian had trouble stopping the run and getting them off the field. It turned into a track meet,” said Jones. “Magnolia has a very talented backfield. They’re running the triple option. The quarterback does a good job of reading the option. They run the mid-triple. They run a rocket toss. They run a version of veer. They do a good job of making good reads and making you have to play very disciplined on defense. If you’re out of alignment or out of place or making the wrong read one play, they have the ability to bust one.”
For the Wildcats, stopping Magnolia’s running game will be imperative. It will be just as important to not give up anything easy over the top in the pass game.
“They look like what Harding University likes to do. They want to run the triple option as efficiently as they can and when they lull those safeties to sleep, they’re going to run a vertical concept and try to throw it over the top,” said Jones. “So, a lot of their pass game is taking shots. We have to be ready for that. They’ll only throw it a couple times a game but the few times they’ve thrown it, they’ve been very good because everybody has sold out to stop the run.”
Defensive linemen Hayden Owen and Josh Hill both return to the lineup for the Wildcats after missing last week. They’ll be needed against Magnolia’s talented backfield.
“(Garrion Curry), the tailback, had two of the most impressive runs I’ve seen in a long time against Little Rock Christian,” said Jones. “He broke an 80-yard run for a touchdown, and he ran over three guys. I think six guys had an opportunity to make a tackle and he ran right through them. He’s a very talented player.
“(Kendrick Carey) is another guy that has big-play ability.”
Magnolia’s defense has been a mixed bag, yielding just six points against Crossett one week and surrendering 49 against LR Christian the next. Christian rushed for 329 yards, averaging 10.3 yards per attempt but threw four interceptions against Magnolia’s defense.
“Defensively, they’ve been in an odd front. They’ve been in an even front. They’ve varied their coverage behind it. They’ve played a little bit of man and played some cover four, cover two. The opponents, offensively, were similar in scheme. I think early, they’re trying to find an identity on that side of the ball. The last two games they’ve played an even front. We’ll be ready either way,” said Jones,” who believes the Wildcats have found something on offense.
“We had almost 500 yards of total offense, so we feel like we found a good mix of what our personnel needs to be. Moving forward, we’ll put the best dudes on the field and get after it. Whether it looks like a fullback’s in there or four wide receivers, whatever we’ve got to do to make plays, we’ll put those guys on the field.”
The Wildcats will have to score to win but tonight’s game could come down to one very specific question. Can El Dorado stop Magnolia’s rushing attack?
“Keys to victory, we have to stop the run. I think everybody in Arkansas understands when you play a team that runs the triple option, that’s obviously the number one goal,” said Jones. “More than that is playing disciplined defensively, not letting our eyes take us to the wrong place. When you play the triple option, you have to be very disciplined. Our defense has practiced against the scout team this week without a ball. Every single time they snap it, when we blow the whistle, we have somebody with the quarterback.
“We have somebody with the pitch man. We have somebody with the dive. Doing it that way really helps us understand our keys and know where to attack and to play sound and not get fooled. Another key to victory, offensively is just finishing drives. Last week, between the 20s, we were really good and then we got inside the red zone and had a fumbled quarterback snap that never touched the quarterback’s hands. And we had a botched protection on a fourth-down play. That’s also something I don’t see happening again. We finish drives and that gives us another chance to win.”