Bearcats look to rebound from loss
Published 5:41 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Bainbridge (0-1) isn’t dwelling on last Friday’s 29-12 loss to Lee County at Centennial Field. The players and coaches have their eyes turned to Thursday, when the Bearcats will travel to Tallahassee to play Lincoln High School (0-1).
Coach Jeff Littleton told his players this week to worry about the things they can control, stay focused and work on getting better each day.
“They are responding to that well,” Littleton said. “They had a great practice (Monday). They know they have some things to work on. They control their effort and their attitude, and the coaches have to get better and the players have to get better.”
Lincoln quarterback Chris Brimm is a three-year starter. Last season he threw for 2,294 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Littleton said the Trojan’s offensive line is big, and will be a challenge for Bainbridge’s defense to break through. Seniors Tom Moss, Kevin Matthews and Trimi Slade will return to the line this season, protecting Brimm while he searches for targets Will Farmer (42 receptions, 469 yards, 2 TD) and Malik Garye (42 receptions, 449 yards, 3 TD).
“They run a lot of different formations, out of the I, they run spread, they run out of the gun,” Littleton said. “They do a lot of different things on offense. They have some tall receivers.”
On defense, Lincoln runs a 3-4 with big linemen and a quick secondary. One of the biggest returning starter is safety Freddie Simmons, who recorded three interceptions last season.
Littleton said many of the blown plays during last week’s loss to Lee County were the result of missed assignments and a lack of focus and discipline, but practice and repetition will help iron out those kinks.
As for running back Dameon Pierce, it is still up in the air whether he will play against Lincoln after suffering an ankle sprain two weeks ago during a scrimmage against Godby in Tallahassee. He is practicing with the team, but abstaining from contact.
Bainbridge kicks off against Godby on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
