A Sanderson receiver cannot pull in a catch against Millbrook.
Nov 9, 2008
Sanderson head coach Jason Tindal knows not many people give Sanderson a chance Friday night against Jack Britt, but the Spartans aren't going to fold to the Buccaneers before the game starts.
“Nobody thinks we’re going to win. Nobody in the world thinks Sanderson is going to win. Nobody in the world should take Sanderson to win," Tindal said Sunday afternoon, just after his staff finished watching tape, "But I watched their film, and I realized that they’re a high school football team just like we are.”
Sanderson will enter the game with a 5-6 overall record and the No. 16 seed in the 4-AA East. The Bucs come in with a 10-1 record, the No. 1 seed in the east, ranked No. 3 in the AP poll, and No. 3 in Tom Suiter's Fabulous 15.
So, after watching tape on Jack Britt, what does Tindal know about them?
“They’re bigger than us, they have more team speed than we do, their record is certainly a lot better, and they’ve got a really good, athletic quarterback," Tindal said.
All of those things are true, and the numbers back it up.
Quarterback Everett Proctor is one of the top players at his position and despite the 671-yards and five touchdowns he had thrown for before Friday, Proctor's strength is in his legs.
The senior has 546-yards on the ground in 80 attempts. He's also responsible for 9 rushing touchdowns.
Proctor may not be the only quarterback the Sanderson defense sees on Friday night, though. The Buccaneers will occasionally put sophomore quarterback Russell Collins under center, then move Proctor out to wide receiver. Collins can pass, but he's also good at running the option play, pitching the ball to the backs.
The skill players on offense aren't the only ones that Tindal is paying attention too.
“Xavier Nixon is a man amongst boys," Tindal said. "It’s going to be exciting to watch him and Perry [Simmons] go against each other.”
Nixon has been called the most recruited player from that area since Marvin Powell in the 1970's. Powell went on to play at Southern California, and eventually the NFL.
“They’re talented," Tindal said, and despite the excellent play expected from Jack Britt, Tindal refuses to concede the game.
“On paper, we don’t have a chance in the world. But the beauty of this thing is its one game. You’ve always got a chance in this game of high school football."
This story is closed for comments.
