| By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Bryan Sterns feels Calhoun High School's football team needs to do two
things to win - tackle and catch the ball.
Saturday the Red Devils did neither.
"We didn't wrap up on tackles. We dropped too many passes. We have to work
on those things," Sterns, Calhoun's first-year coach, said. "But we were
playing a couple of pretty good teams."
Calhoun dropped a 1-0 (touchdown) decision to both Seth and Sissonville.
"We did better in the Sissonville game," Sterns said. "We came all out (on
defense) and Sissonville scored with about 15 seconds left to beat us."
The Grid-O-Rama was held at Herbert Hoover High School Saturday.
"We missed some long passes and the weather perhaps was a factor," he said.
"But if we are to pass, as I feel we must, we need to hold onto the ball in
all kinds of weather."
Following Calhoun's Grid-O-Rama action Sterns went to watch Gilmer County,
Calhoun's opponent in Friday night's opening game.
"Gilmer has a good team," Sterns said. "They are bigger than we are on the
line and they throw the ball very well. They gave Independence a good game
and beat Midland Trail. They are going to be a big challenge to us."
Sterns announced what probably will be the starting lineup when the Red
Devils travel to Glenville for the season opener.
Mike Batten will start at quarterback with Justin Price and Paul Goodrich as
the running backs.
Jason Cunningham and Andrew Cummings will split time at
wide receiver (Z Back) witrh Tyler Shartiger at split end and Chad Conley at
tight end.
The offensive line will include Justin Whipkey and Matt Harris at tackles
with Dustin Carpenter and Caleb Hart at guards and Zack Yeager at center.
Hart and Yeager are freshmen.
Defensively the Red Devils will have Shartiger, Cummings, Cunningham and
Dustyn Nichols at the defensive back positions with Price, Goodrich and
Conley at linebacker.
Carpenter and Justin Ramsey are scheduled starters at
defensive end with Whipkey and Harris at tackles.
Michael Sullivan will handle all place kicking duties with Price serving as
the punter.
"We'd got the players to be pretty good, but everyone else is better too,"
Sterns said. "So we have to get better, starting Friday."
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