PLYMOUTH – It was a big early win a week ago at Northridge, for Plymouth’s Rockies the challenge this week is to avoid the let down that sometimes accompanies that win.
“We know it was a big win, but the challenge only gets greater now,” said Plymouth head coach John Barron. “You have more and more people from the outside telling you how good you are. If we start believing that we’re in trouble. We are a good football team – don’t get me wrong – but we’ve gotten there by working at it.”
The Rockie defense cleared up many doubts that might have arisen in the early going with a resounding exclamation point against the Raiders.
“I was proud of the win but really how we won,” said Barron. “I thought we won by really good defense. We got two defensive scores. I think our offense took some punches from them. We made some mistakes but we overcame that and won.”
After the emotion of the road win a week ago, the Rockies have to guard against two very tough opponents in the coming weeks.
“We have struggled traditionally with Elkhart Memorial and Wawasee in front of what has been a really big game with Concord,” said Barron. “We can’t worry about that. We know they’re (Concord) there they are the number one ranked team in 5A right now. We just need to make sure that our kids are aware it’s their responsibility to stay with us mentally as well as physically.”
“Right now as a coaching staff we’re trying take it one day at a time and try to get better today. The one thing that we can control is our effort. We need to focus on those things.”
The big upswing for the defense has a lot to do with personalities.
“I think our kids (defensively) are playing faster and with more confidence,” said Barron. “I think inserting Kyle Lacefield as a safety was also very important. He is a really tough kid and our focal leader on defense. Caleb Wiers is a leader by the way he plays but it isn’t in his personality to be vocal. You need that out there when you play three sophomores that’s a security blanket.
“Playing and starting 22 kids has made a big difference. We have been very physical but I think that has to do with playing one side of the ball.”
And while the offensive line has been a big part of Plymouth’s running game it’s the front that starts it all for the defense too.
“(Chaz) Scruggs creates so much havoc. (Brandt) Peters is so explosive and when you throw in (Jacob) LaFree and (Marcos) Rodriguez and C.C. Bastardo playing some nose allowing us to move Scruggs around to play some end, we have a lot of guys creating some havoc up there. It helps our linebackers read,” said Barron.
“Our four linebackers are very good. I don’t know if they are the best but they are all physical, they love to play the game and they can all run and it makes them very good.”
That defense will be called on to stop an explosive team this week at Plymouth.
“Memorial is always dangerous because they always have so much speed,” said Barron. “I know they’ve struggled but we don’t care about that. There is no excuse for us to have a let down. We’re calling on our seniors to be great leaders this week. It’s more of a mental preparation week for us.”
