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In it together

Trojans rely on teamwork

John M Setzler Jr

Bandys assistant coach Trent Lowman looks over a list of plays with several Trojans’ players during practice on Wednesday.

By Chris Hobbs | Hickory Daily Record

Published: November 19, 2009

CATAWBA - Bandys High head football coach Randy Lowman was not offended or surprised when, after his team beat Newton-Conover on Oct. 2, the big question was asked:

How in the world did Bandys beat Newton-Conover, the defending state 2A champion?

He asked the same thing.

And as the Trojans' home rematch with the Red Devils nears – it's Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Bandys in the second round of the state 2AA playoffs – he's asking it again.

"It's hard for me to look at the personnel and look optimistic," Lowman said Wednesday night. "Our nose guard, Chris Boyd, weighs 168 pounds. Our right side defensive tackle (Eben Pyle) is 5-8, 180 and the biggest one is Donovan McGill (209 pounds).

"That's our three defensive linemen and there is only three of them. There can't be a smaller line in the state, probably even in middle schools.

"But Boyd is 168 pounds and it's 168 pounds of heart. It's what we've got, and every week I wait for it to collapse and it hasn't.

"There are bigger and faster teams. But right now, our kids are playing on heart and emotion, and I think sometimes that the cards will fall down but they keep proving me wrong."

After winning their first league title since 2003 and being in the double-digit win territory (11-1) they grew accustomed to for most of the last 14 seasons, the Trojans are hoping they have what they need to keep advancing in the postseason.

Looming ahead could be third-seeded East Lincoln, which spanked Bandys 40-12 for their only loss, but Lowman says thinking about anyone else other than the Red Devils (11-1) wouldn't be smart.

Bandys has won eight straight games since that loss at East Lincoln, including the Oct. 2 game at home over the Red Devils. In that one, the Trojans jumped to a 20-0 lead when quarterback Kyle Houser completed 14-of-18 passes for 205 yards – in the first half.

Houser, a senior who now has (unofficially) 7,016 career passing yards, is the defined leader for Bandys and gives the Trojans a chance to win any game.

"He has been that way," said Lowman of Houser, who makes his sixth state playoff start with averages of 188.4 yards passing and 14 TD passes in the previous five. "He's been a different kid. He's always had the ability and nights like that, but this year he is really focused and team-oriented as far as doing what we need to do.

"It's the little things... like we call a defensive timeout and he is out in the huddle with the defense, doing the things quarterbacks need to do besides throwing the football.

"A lot of teams are more talented (than Bandys) and Newton is one of them. So our only way to win is to play as a team. And when we get everybody doing their part, we are pretty good.
"We have to rely on that."

So far, the combination of Houser, running back Trent Millsaps and a core group of receivers (Seth Cranfill, Tyler Hynes, Cody Hughes and Kenny Hodge) have made the Trojans an offensive force.

Houser has thrown for 2,267 and 22 TDs, Millsaps has rushed for 1,410 yards and 22 scores and those four receivers have combined for 120 catches for 1,956 yards and 20 TDs.

But the key to winning, beyond intense teamwork, has been the defensive improvement the Trojans have made, Lowman said.

"Oh by far," Lowman said of where the Trojans have been better than the last two seasons, when they went 6-6 and 7-7. "Our (defensive coaches) have been busting their tails.

"It's all kind of been the same thing. There's been a lot said about we changed to a 3-4 from a 4-3 and this is a big part of it.

"But I've always said I don't care where you line them up, you put 11 people out there and they stop people.

"We've grown to that. It started with the scheme change. Now we've got three down (linemen) and eight standing up running to the football and we've got eight guys who can run. That's what we needed. And our coaches and guys have bought into it."

Lowman, meanwhile, has punched his ticket for believing that he can count on one thing come Friday night from his players – maximum effort, which he says gives his team a chance to win.

"We're a better team than we were six to eight weeks ago and I know they (Newton-Conover) are too," he said. "I hope it is a great game.

"I am confident my kids will play as hard as they can. I don't know if they are big enough or fast enough, but it's a scarier proposition when you don't know if they will be ready to play.

"This bunch, I don't worry. They play for us, for Bandys High, and whether they are good enough or not, that's for somebody else to decide."

In their previous 14 games -- all those since the first season that Bandys reached a state championship game (1996) -- the Trojans have won nine times and the Red Devils have won five.

The one comparative statistic that jumps off the page is Bandys' passing success in the games:

.>>>> In the Red Devils' five wins, they held the Trojans to 202.2 yards per game, with a completion percentage of 30.8 and nine TDs, and Newton-Conover had only five turnovers.

>>>> In their nine wins, the Trojans averaged 216.6 yards passing with a whopping 63.9 completion percentage and 22 TD throws. And they forced the Red Devils into 25 turnovers.

On Oct. 2, the Red Devils, who are option first and pass second, had some self-imposed penalties and had to play from behind.

"We were able to make some big plays," Lowman said. "We made some big plays in our passing game and some of the things we had hoped would work worked.

"The biggest reason (for victory) was we played great defense. We tackled them and kept them out of the big play and we go the lead. As time went on, they had to do some things they don't usually do.

"It was that kind of game. The defense played hard and we got some breaks.

"Both teams played hard and played good, but we got some breaks when we needed them. I don't know that one team played better than the other.

"We didn't make the fatal mistake."