FRI Prev: Brother Martin looks to knock off Rummel

So, with Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Rummel at Gormley almost here, Pittman is in a good position. He now has two running backs to work into the game.

And to think, that’s what Pittman was looking for prior to the season.

“Hilliard was scheduled this year to be a receiver, our No. 3 in a spread set,” Pittman said. “I think there’s where we’re going with it. We’re feeling it out right now at practice to see how it goes. All summer long we worked on it.”

Way back in the spring, Pittman was working with Phil Ancar at tailback and Hilliard in the slot. But Ancar tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament, putting the onus on Hilliard to become an every down back. Pittman said he just wasn’t comfortable yet with Butler in the game.

He is now, and it’s the Rummel Red Raiders (8-1, 3-0) problem to deal with.

“I think they’re a running football team,” Rummel coach Jay Roth said. “It could have been Ancar. It could have been Butler. It could have been Hilliard. They’ve got a good offensive line. It’s kind of like the Denver broncos. Whoever runs is going to get yards.”

But, according to Pittman, the problem might be getting his offense the ball.

“Our job is ball control and the key down is third,” Pittman said. “You have to get Rummel’s offense off the field. Against Jesuit, they ran 75 plays. You run 75 plays, you ought to score some points.”

In fact, Rummel only beat Jesuit 17-7. But that’s a testament to how few possessions Jesuit actually had the ball.

“If they’re running 70, how much time do you have on offense?” Pittman said. “That’s what happened the last two times I’ve seen them play. They execute. They run a lot of old style, smash-mouth football.”

Quick or long, Roth isn’t concerned with how long his team holds onto the ball as long as it scores.

“It we hold it long and score points, that keeps their guys off the field,” Roth said. “If we can get it and score soon, I like that, too. … The less they’re on the field, the better off we are.”

St. James at Kentwood, Friday 7 p.m.
Rick Gaille’s job this week is to make sure his team doesn’t come down from its emotional high after St. James beat Curtis. Playing Class 1A power Kentwood certainly should help. The Kangaroos are 7-2 and won their district by going undefeated.

There’s also one other way that Gaille is keeping his Class 2A Wildcats’ (7-2) attention.

“By treating this week exactly the same as last week and the week before,” he said. “Keeping the same routine, the same emphasis.”

It won’t be easy. Gaille said Kentwood’s offense unlike any his team has seen this season. Rather, it’s a conglomeration of all the offenses.

“They run a really multiple offense,” Gaille said. “Everything from three backs to no backs. Wide twins to tight slots. This is the first year we’ve played them so we don’t have a book on them. We spent a lot of time studying and drawing up what they do.”

And even though St. James has wrapped up an outright district title and a playoff spot, this game still has importance. Momentum, sure. But playoff seeding is still on the line.

“The whole idea if you’re competitive is to be highly ranked and wind up as highly as you can in the power point derby,” Gaille said. “Really every game counts exactly the same with the power rating and seeding and really getting into the playoffs.”

Curtis at Newman, Friday 7 p.m.
Most people aren’t going to be envious of Nelson Stewart tonight. His Newman (8-1, 2-1 District 10-2A) team gets the task of playing Curtis a week after the Patriots lost in-state for the first time in three years.

“I don’t think you can say it’s a good thing at all,” Stewart said. “If anything, they’re going to be focused than they normally are. They’re such a good football team, so well-coached, I think if there were any points of emphasis they needed to work out before the playoffs, a loss magnified that.”

For Newman to be successful against Curtis (6-2, 2-1), Stewart said the play of both his lines – offensive (Bruno Vetter, Robert Riess, Nick Tamai, John Vaus and Sean McGoey) and defensive (Vetter, Mandella Kazi, Bryan Poppler and James Horner) – are going to have to be top-notch.

“You have to play your best game of the year,” Stewart said. “A couple of breaks have to go your way. And it all starts with the defense, which has to try to slow down their running game. They’re going to pound the ball.”

Stewart isn’t fooled by Curtis’ 16-14 loss to St. James, which beat his Greenies 41-14 on Oct. 12.

“We still think they’re one of the top one or two teams in the state,” Stewart said.