Cedar Creek prepares for physical Lakeside scrimmage
The physicality of Cedar Creek’s offensive line, including Kaden Williams (59), Logan Canales (53), and Bryce Martin (65), prepares the Cougars for their scrimmage. Photo by Darrell James
Cedar Creek’s first opportunity to face an opponent is around the corner, but the preparation hasn’t changed.
With the Cougars set to host a scrimmage against Lakeside on Friday at 6 p.m., correct positioning, clean snaps, avoiding penalties, and playing smart football make up most of the priorities for head coach William Parkerson as he leads his squad into year two for a preseason tune-up against live competition.
But if you know Parkerson, and the mentality he’s tried to instill in Creek football over the last two years, physicality is always at the top of his list – whether it be a playoff game, preseason scrimmage, or regular fall camp practice.
The good news for the Cougars going into their scrimmage with the Warriors is they’ve gotten a heavy dose of bruising, backyard football throughout fall camp against a veteran offensive line and linebacking core.
“The offensive line has definitely been much more physical in practice this year and you see when we go to team action there are a lot of bodies on the ground,” Parkerson said. “That’s encouraging because that means they’re moving people around and dictating physicality. I’m looking forward to seeing if that carries over with Lakeside.”
It’s a welcome sign for a Creek team needing its veteran line to be at their best this season, returning four of five starters from a season ago. Parkerson has consistently liked what he’s seen from Bryce Martin, who doubles as a defensive lineman, along with a group of talented linebackers in junior Blake Robinson, sophomore Trigger Woodard, and Mason Wooden – a senior transfer.
Against Lakeside, Parkerson expects the O-line and linebacker’s practice motor, and the havoc they tend to deliver to younger Cougars, to be constant against the Warriors.
“Our offensive line and linebackers have been leading the charge with their physicality in practice,” Parkerson said. “ It seems to be spilling over to the others, but we’ll know more about that after Friday.”
Offensively, quarterback Cason Floyd will face a live opponent at the varsity level for the first time in the scrimmage. It may be a 12-minute quarter of action, but Parkerson wants his young signalcaller to be sharp.
“We’re practicing at a much faster tempo and they know the expectations they’re trying to meet. Parkerson said.
“Just looking at him [Floyd] to get us in and out of plays right and continuing to progress in the offense.”
Creek and Lakeside scrimmage on Friday at 6 p.m. at Cougar Field at Origin Bank Stadium.
