Half a loaf is OK. Two-thirds is even better.
But to win a football, especially at the varsity level, it generally requires a complete-game effort.
No one knows that better after last week than Ryan David.
The second-year coach of the Lakeside Dragons was pleased with two of the three aspects of the game by his squad in a 14-0 loss at Geneva in the Premier Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
“Our defense played great — they were on the field most of the second half, and held Geneva to 14 points,” he said. “Our special teams played great, with the exception of one bad snap, which led to a touchdown.
“It seems like every game our special teams play great, except for one bad snap.”
Then, there’s the offense... or, more specifically, the lack of it. Lakeside (1-4, 0-2) has not scored in its last eight quarters since a 20-14 triumph against visiting Edgewood in Week 3.
“Offensively, I am extremely disappointed,” David said. “We practiced all week because we knew Geneva would put nine in the box, blitz their inside and outside linebackers. They did exactly what we practiced and our offensive line did not block it.
“That angered my staff and myself because we worked hard to prepare for their defense.”
As Lakeside prepares to host University School in another PAC clash Friday night, David knows where the problem is with his offense.
“The main reason is because our offensive line is missing too many blocks,” he said. “We have worked many, many hours on all different kinds of stunts, blitzes, fronts. It is up to our offensive line to take responsibility and block instead of making excuses.”
David said results must change or something else will have to.
“My coaching staff and myself have been evaluating things over the weekend and we haven’t made any decisions yet,” he said. “We will come up with something as we agreed changes do need to be made.”
Offense certainly has not been a problem for US. While the Preppers were watching Mr. Football candidate Kareem Hunt (335 yards rushing, 6 touchdowns in only 3 quarters of play) treat their defense like Michael Meyers did teenagers in Halloween, they did produce 21 points in a 32-point loss to visiting South on Saturday afternoon.
Quarterback John Gannon completed 26 of 47 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns. His tag-team partner was Luke Vadas (6-foot, 175-pound senior), who caught 12 of Gannon’s 26 aerials for 200 yards and hauled in both scoring strikes.
David also mentioned tailback Kevin Smith (5-9, 190, senior) and inside linebacker Desi Finley (5-9, 205, junior) as players to watch.
“They run the spread on offense... they pass the ball a lot,” he said. “Defensively, they put eight in the box and play a pseudo-man coverage behind and blitz their linebackers.
“Desi Finley, inside linebacker, Kevin Smith, their tailback, and Luke Vadas, wide receiver — these guys look great on film and we must concentrate on stopping them.”
The Preppers embarrassed the Dragons a year ago in the first matchup in the series, 68-0.
“We must play great special teams — we cannot have a bad snap as we worked too many hours on this to have any more bad snaps,” he said. “Our offensive line must step up, not be intimidated, not be scared and play as they’re taught and not make excuses.
“The defense needs to continue to cause turnovers, tackle well and play as a team, not point fingers if the offense is struggling.”
David admits he is not pleased with the 1-4 start by his squad.
“I really believed that we would, at least, be 3-2,” he admitted. “One thing that I have realized is we do not have football speed. We might have players who run fast on the track, but they do not make the transition onto the football field. Every team we have played has been faster than us.
“I must also state that my coaches, for example, Eric Elmore, have coached these guys so hard, an effort that I don’t think they appreciate because they don’t perform with the intensity that he coaches with.
“He gets frustrated, as do I, when our efforts to coach are not matched by effort to play.”
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