The Bulldog Football Report

The Bulldog Football Report
Volume 1, Issue 3
September 16, 2015

In this edition of The Bulldog Football Report we will:

• Break down the Spring Creek game with Coach Stephen Cochran and look ahead to the upcoming game against Spring Creek.
• Take a look at how other Big East Conference teams fared last week and preview this week’s schedule.
• Meet Defensive Line Coach Raymond Ryals.

Spring Creek Game Review

If you only look at the score of this week’s game against Spring Creek, you would assume it was a one-sided affair. In reality, it was a defensive battle from kickoff to the final whistle with both teams showcasing athletic, hard-hitting defenses.

In his pre-game discussion Coach Cochran talked about the intensity of the Spring Creek defense and players such as Defensive End Michael O’Hara and Linebacker Malik Sutton. They let everyone know early on they came to play, as did Safety Nick Strickland who also got into the mix with an interception in the end zone to put an end to one of WCA’s drives. Three and outs and defensive stops were a common theme for both teams.

Despite not putting the ball into the end zone, Spring Creek QB Jessie Casper showed his versatility in air and on foot, passing for 30 yards and rushing for 18. Najee Young led the Gators ground game with 41 yards rushing and Jamerion Dawson, part of the receiving corps Coach Cochran talked about before the game, led Spring Creek’s receivers with 31 yards.

The Bulldog defense brought it early and often – owners of their share of three and outs, combined with some great work by special teams to set the offense up with great field position throughout the game.

An Andrew Hinton fumble recovery at the end of pressure by Will Crukshank set up a WCA TD. Jon Toler had two picks, one of which turned away a Spring Creek fourth down and short yardage attempt. The defensive unit’s play was rounded out by a Camden Woods safety early in the fourth quarter, which made it a three score game and arguably secured the WCA win.

On the offensive side of the ball, WCA produced 314 yards total offense – 182 on the ground and 132 in the air. The Bulldog quarterbacks continue to make good things happen. A Cody Carpenter 32 yard TD pass to Trevon Muse to open WCA’s account on the night was followed by a 10 yard Nathaniel Williams TD run. A second Cody Carpenter TD run was called back by an illegal shift flag.

Nathaniel Williams led the Bulldogs in rushing, as Connor Collins continues to see his name in the box score with a 2 yard TD run caping off 35 yards rushing and a reception for 14 yards. Seth Bunn added 29 yards rushing. Jon Kirkpatrick led the Bulldogs receivers with 46 yards, with Greyson Williams adding 33.

With the win the Bulldogs move to 3-1 on the season. The loss drops Spring Creek to 2-2.

In action this week, Spring Creek will host Southside out of Chocowinity, while the Bulldogs travel to Newton Grove to take on familiar foe Hobbton.

The Bulldog Football Report spoke to Coach Cochran after the Spring Creek win and here’s what he had to say:

TBFR: Coach Cochran, give us your overall thoughts on the Spring Creek game.
CC: I thought we came out and played good, physical defense. We pursued the ball well. Offensively we are moving the football, but we are killing ourselves with penalties. I think we have taken 35 points off the board this year due penalties. Hats off to Spring Creek. They played a great game.

TBFR: As you prepare for Hobbton on Friday, what are some of the things the Bulldogs should continue to do?
CC: We have to be prepared for Hobbton to come out physical and aggressive and believing they can beat us – just as Spring Creek did. Hobbton is a run-oriented team, so we are looking for our run defense to continue to step up. On the offensive side of the ball, we need to continue to run the ball well. Hobbton is a close road game distance-wise, so it would be great to have a big Bulldog crowd cheering us on down there.

TBFR: Same question, but from a different angle, what are some things the Bulldogs must improve upon?
CC: Easy answer. Penalties and QB play. With regard to QB play, we are trying to make plays instead of make the plays that are there.

TBFR: Thinking about penalties, how do you “train” to cut down on the flags?
CC: I have been preaching aggressiveness for the past two years. We are as aggressive as we have been at any time during this time, now we have to be an intelligent aggressive. I can tell you it has been a point of awareness at practice this week.

If you’re going to the game:

Kickoff Friday night is at 7:30PM.

Hobbton High School is located between Newton Grove and Clinton off US-701/Hobbton Highway.

From WCA take I-40 East to Exit 343. At the end of the ramp turn right onto US-701 South (toward Clinton). The school will be on US-701 on your right in 5-7 minutes.

Be sure to check the WCA Twitter page every Friday for the “Friday Twitter Roll” where TBFR will preview the week’s opponent.

Big East Conference Scores – September 11, 2015

Davidson Day 53 Harrells 0
Concord First Assembly Academy 39 North Raleigh Christian 14
Charlotte Latin 35 Ravenscroft 7

Big East Conference Games – September 18, 2015

South Robeson at Harrells
North Raleigh Christian and Ravenscroft both have an open date this week.

Coach’s Corner – Raymond Ryals, Defensive Line Coach

Defense set the tone for both teams in the past week’s game against Spring Creek and defensive intensity has been a common theme for WCA during Head Coach Steven Cochran’s time at WCA.

This week TBFR sat down with Defensive Line Coach Raymond Ryals for a discussion about football, defense, and the important role coaches play in the lives of young athletes.

TBFR: Coach Ryals how long have you been involved with WCA Football?
CRR: The short answer is 4 years, but I’ve been coaching football on and off for over 10 years.  Our children started attending Wake Christian Academy in 2010 when the oldest of three was entering high school.  I started helping out the coaching staff when my son, Luke, began to play varsity in 2012.

TBFR: What is your favorite aspect of coaching high school athletes?
CRR: For me this is a ministry.  Not only do I have an opportunity to teach a sport that I love, but I consider it an honor to be able to encourage and speak into the lives of these young men, especially given the challenges our teenagers face in today’s culture.

TBFR: What is your favorite thing about coaching defense?
CRR: Just ask Coach Johnson and he will agree that defense wins the game.  My love for defense began at a young age. I played defense all my life and into college as a Defensive End at Chowan College and later Elon University.  As a coach I enjoy studying the opposing team’s offense and developing a strategy in order to shut it down. When we are able to get the players to buy into that strategy and execute it, we have done our jobs. Working with Coach Cochran and Coach Woods has revealed how little I truly know about defense and learning from them has been both a rewarding and humbling experience.