Cubs embracing underdog role against Tigers
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
By Jared Lankford
sports@monett-times.com
Lamar brings 23-game win streak to game
Heading into Friday's game against multi-season state champ Lamar, Monett Coach Derrek Uhl knows who the favorite is.
"We are the underdogs on Friday," Uhl said. "I've checked, and Vegas has us as the underdog. Until someone beats Lamar, you have to view them as the favorites."
While Uhl's remarks were meant to be lighthearted, the fact remains that the Cubs are faced with a tall task as the defending five-time Class 2 state champion invades Monett on Friday.
The Tigers enter the contest with a 23-game win streak. Equally impressive is the fact Lamar has not surrendered a point in the last 22 quarters and have outscored their opponents 155-0 this season.
Lamar returns 18 starters from last year's team and three more players that saw part-time starting roles last year.
Despite this dominance, the Tigers' coaches and players feel like they have not reached their peak yet this season.
"We defeated Aurora 50-0, and our players feel like they didn't play well," said Scott Bailey, Lamar coach. "When they come to you and are mad about missing a tackle or giving up a first down, you have a group of players focused on getting better."
Bailey said the secret to his team's success over the last few years is in a simple approach.
"We don't focus on game wins and losses," Bailey said. "Our focus is on winning individual battles. If we execute our assignments and win the one-on-one battles, the game takes care of itself."
Bailey said Monett's size is something his team will have to solve on Friday.
"They have some big guys up front that can eat up blockers," he said. "We have got to get our linemen on them and sustain our blocks."
While Bailey said the size of Monett is an obstacle, he did not elaborate on the fact that his team has plenty of speed at the skill positions.
"You watch film of them, and they look just as fast or faster than last year," Uhl said. "You have to respect them and be disciplined in your approach. Their quarterbacks, both of them, are deceptive and when they turn their back to the line of scrimmage for the spin, it makes it tough."
The Cubs are going to take a simplified approach to the game this year.
Uhl said that some teams get rattled when they focus on all of the achievements and success that the Tigers have had over the last few years. He said it almost gives Lamar a 7- or 14-point mental edge before the players get off the bus.
Last season, the Cubs tried to add too much to their playbook and over thought the game plan against the Tigers.
"The first thing is, we have to approach this as just another game," Uhl said. "I take responsibility for last year and the fact that we made our game plan too complicated. This year, we are going simple. We are going to do the things that we have had success with this year and just be ourselves."
The Cubs showed the ability to switch gears in a game and scrap what is not working when they played Mt. Vernon. Lamar has noticed the change as well.
"Monett has a nice mix of size and speed," Bailey said. "You come up to stop [Michael] Branch and they opt to a pass. They just aren't sticking with the run or pass."
It has been six years since the Cubs defeated Lamar, and the pressure is on the Monett defense. The Tigers have lost just two games in the last three seasons, 50-46 and 29-28, both to Carl Junction. Those were games in which the Tigers' offense was outscored, not shutdown.
"We have to make the tackle the first time," Uhl said. "Lamar doesn't need any help."
Keys for Monett
* Points are a premium
Monett needs to score and preferably first. If the Cubs can have some success early, it may be enough to carry them through the rest of the game.
* Penalties and turnovers
They have both been a thorn in the side of the Cubs this season. This would be a perfect game to show that they are no longer an issue.
* Big men in the trenches
Plain and simple, if Monett is going to win the game, the defensive front of Alex Turner, Angel Villalta, Coy Butterworth, Patrick Valentine and Tyler Allcock will need to have monster games. They have to be disruptive and involved in some form or fashion on every play.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
