Apaches need focus to go 2-0

GONZALES — After upsetting Orange Grove last week, the Gonzales Apaches are set for their home opener against the Austin Crockett Cougars (0-1), a team that went 1-9 last season and are picked fifth in district by prognosticators.

“Austin Crockett was a 1-9 football team last year, but that’s a 1-9 football team on a 5A level and we’ve got to realize that and be mature enough to realize that,” Gonzales head coach Kodi Crane warned. “The process says we take care of this week, we do what’s right this week, we work hard this week, we get better this week so as we get down the line, we’re a better football team.”

Staying focus will be key for the Apaches. Although Gonzales may be favored to win, last week shows that anything can happen under those Friday night lights.

Offensively, the Cougars like to line up in spread formations, usually with their receivers lined up in doubles or trips. Though their offensive looks don’t seem to vary, at least according to game film and film from their scrimmages, the Cougars like to motion players around to create some confusion with their misdirection plays.

“They’ll take their slot receiver and put him a yard outside their offensive tackle,” Crane scouted, “get him in there really close to try to create blocking schemes and leverage situations. They are a 52% run, 48% pass team.”

Austin Crockett will be relying on athletes such as Keon Franklin and Ryan Waugh in the passing game. Franklin had six receptions for 130 yards last week. Waugh is a 6-2, 215-pound slot receiver who will motion a lot to “use to block and set the edge to try to get an advantage,” Crane said.

Quarterback Michael Hidrogo isn’t necessarily a breakaway runner like the Apaches had to face last season, but is able to deliver the ball very well. Running back Joseph Baca is his favorite receiver. He rushed for 55 yards and caught for 64 yards last week.

“We got to stop the big play,” Crane warned. “A couple of these guys got the ability to go the distance at any time.

“With that misdirection, we got to have our eyes where they’re supposed to be and play with great leverage.”

Defensively, the Cougars come out of a 4-2-5 formation, similar to the Apaches defense. But it is their secondary that is a key difference in execution.

“They play a mix between man-free coverage and a quarters type of coverage,” Crane explained.

Key athletes include defensive tackles Quentin McWilliams and Josh Alvarado. Linebacker Henry Hernandez was another player Crane mentioned that can cause havoc for the Apaches’ offensive.

In order to get things rolling, Crane believes their quick passing game has got to start strong in order to open up both their running game and their vertical passing game. Last week the Apaches struggled in their pass protection for drop backs and Crane understands that area of their game needs to be improved.

“We didn’t do a good enough job last week with that and we’ve been working on that hard,” he said. “Our quick passing game opens everything up. If we can throw a quick game, then that opens up our vertical game and that opens our running game. Hopefully we can get the ball rolling with our quick game and then go from there.”

Apaches quarterback Garrett Rickman was accurate last week. If he can continue to improve that accuracy, the Apaches will have a shot at making their offense open up and go tonight at home.

Kickoff at Apache Field is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m.