Patterns should emerge against Gatesville
Jeremy Heath

PHOTO BY GABE WOLF Lampasas offensive line coach Ben Needham discusses strategy with his group between series during last week's 21-16 loss to Taylor. The offensive line, which was porous in pass protection in a 28-14 Week 1 loss to Waco University, allowed just one sack on 38 drop backs against Taylor.

I've always felt it takes three games -- at any level of football -- to really start evaluating a team. Results of that third game, when placed alongside results of the first two, start to reveal patterns that typically surface the remainder of the season.

That makes tonight's homecoming game against Gatesville all important, at least in the eyes of this small-potatoes analyst. The 0-2 Badgers' performance against 0-3 Gatesville could either confirm or debunk some of the mini-patterns that already have emerged.

So let's grade Friday's 21-16 home loss to Taylor, compare those grades to the Week 1 loss to Waco University and try to figure out what to watch for tonight.

Offense, B-Minus: After an anemic showing against Waco U, the offense was inconsistent but at times very good against Taylor.

Jeremy Heath is the Dispatch Record's Sports Editor. His column appears each Friday. He can be contacted via e-mail at jheath@lampasas.com.

Sophomore quarterback Vann Millican more than doubled his completions (from seven to 17) and yardage (87 to 190), and he threw two touchdown passes to zero interceptions. Millican made a few bad reads and left some receivers vulnerable to big hits, but he also was victimized by some drops and placed throws in spots where receivers could pick up extra yardage after the catch. He spread the ball around to different receivers and looked like anything but a sophomore on the 65-yard scoring drive that pulled his team to 21-16 in the final minutes.

Pass protection was the biggest area of improvement Friday night. Waco U's linebackers terrorized Millican in the second half two weeks ago, but Taylor's only sack came via the safety blitz. The Oline was outstanding in pass protection, and the Badger running backs contributed to give Millican pockets (both stationary and rolling) from which to throw.

The receivers showed improvement too, with Seth Fry, Aaron Reyna and Cole Ball each making some plays with coverage rolled to Jarrod Bowen's side of the field.

If there is continued improvement in any of these three areas (quarterback play, pass protection and receiver play), the possibility exists for a positive pattern to emerge.

But the greatest chance of a pattern developing might be whether or not the running game continues to struggle. Sophomore Brode DuBose was impressive in Week 1 but has carried just eight times on the year. DuBose is slated to get the starting nod at tailback this week, and head coach Ryan Bailey said Wednesday the offensive coaching staff has made the running game a priority in practice this week.

Even in a pass-first offense, the running game must have utility. It must, at the very least, pose a threat to defenses. Without that threat, defenses can play without fear.

Defenses playing without fear make gamechanging plays.

Defense, B-Minus: This group fascinates me. Though undersized up front, this unit gets to the ball well, is excellent in coverage, forces turnovers and plays with serious enthusiasm.

Its major problem has been maintaining a high level of play for four quarters. While that might seem like a pattern waiting to present itself, it's hard to call it such at this point. The defense's fourth-quarter letdown against Waco U and its letdown against Taylor are not comparable.

Against Waco U, the defense was simply outstanding. It forced five turnovers and held an explosive offense to 14 points through three quarters. Chalk up the two fourth-quarter touchdowns it surrendered to the offense's inability to pick up first downs in the second half. Heck, I was getting tired just watching from the air-conditioned press box.

Against Taylor, it again made big plays. It forced three turnovers, and players such as Jesse Tobar, DuBose and linebackers Coleton Lucas, Stephen Eskola and Reese Vann made several stops for no gain or for losses. The problem was that Taylor was able to wear down the defense with a consistent running game, which resulted in Tristan Meyer's touchdown runs of 42 and 57 yards in the second half. The Week 2 wear down was not the result of offensive futility, rather it can be placed directly on the defense.

That said, keep in mind Meyer, who ran 37 times for 256 yards, is one of the best 3A running backs in the region and a potential all-state candidate. The Badgers' D won't be the last one he whittles to a nub this season.

Special Teams, B-Minus: This was the most prolific group in Week 1, and it contributed its share of plays on Friday. But a muffed punt led to Taylor's first touchdown, and penalties saved the punt-return team from allowing a first down on a fake punt and the punt team from surrendering a long return.

On the plus side, Sam Barbero nailed a 27-yard field goal, and Bailey was going to run him out for a 47-yard attempt before the half until a false start pushed the Badgers out of Barbero's natural-grass range.

I think the extra-point and field-goal team could present a potentially positive pattern. Barbero is 3 for 3 on extra points and 1 for 1 on field goals. If that's any indication of the unit's potential, this team will have a chance to win any close contest.

Gatesville is either going to lie down or rise up after a 70-7 throttling last week at the hands of second-ranked Liberty Hill.

My guess is they rise up and make this a close game.