News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County’s rushing attack gained nearly 250 yards on the ground in the opener, but Head Coach Sean Loftis said he wants to move the ball through the air as well.
The Blue Devils starting quarterback junior Skylar Stacy and junior tailback Zavion Mitchell combined for 30 carries, 178 yards and all four of Jackson County’s touchdowns. Loftis said while he trusts his team’s passing attack, it can be difficult to stop what is working so well.
“As a play caller, I want to be 50/50, but when things are working, I’m not going to change it,” Loftis said. “I don’t know as a fan, I’m sure everyone likes to see the ball in the air and likes the explosive plays. But week to week it’s going to be something different I’m sure.”
As the offensive playcaller, Loftis said his players are aware that the team will do whatever it takes to win, even if that means throwing the ball 25 times or never throwing at all. Loftis points to his team’s week one victory where when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils threw the ball.
“Everybody probably sees our rushing stats, where we rushed for just shy of 250 yards,” Loftis said. “But the most important play of the game came down on a 3rd and 11 throw for 30 yards that we completed to Brady Smith and it ended up after the catch and run ended up being for 30 yards and it prolonged our drive. And we went on down to score to go up.”
Loftis also utilized his freshman tailback Braiden Dodson to give the opposing defense a different look at tailback. In only seven carries, Dodson racked up 60 yards for 8.5 yards per carry.
Loftis said this season his team will feature some freshman getting genuine game experience and expects the lights will not be too bright for them.
“We played several freshman Friday night,” Loftis said. “Whether they started or whether they came in for a couple of plays here and there to get somebody some rest, I thought they all did some good things, and I expect some more good things from this week forward because they’ve all shown growth from over the summer.”
The Blue Devils will look to stay undefeated when they travel to Sale Creek Friday night.
