Published: August 28, 2008 01:28 am            

The right start

Blooming Grove, Wortham look for early momentum

It will be a rare match up for two Golden Circle teams as they begin the 2008 season.

Both Wortham and Blooming Grove will be looking to start their seasons off right as the two squads hit the field against each other Friday in Blooming Grove.

The Lions are going into the season on the rise after reaching the playoffs for the first time in 16 years, despite holding a 4-6 regular season record in 2007.

The Bulldogs struggled last year, defeating just two teams (Frost and Iola) on their way to a seventh place finish in District 25-1A.

With Wortham climbing to get back on top and Blooming Grove attempting to improve on last year’s success, each team is confident in their chances heading into the season opener.

“We are all excited,” first-year Lions coach Scott Doring said. “We have put a lot of work in during the last four weeks of practice and are looking forward to seeing what we have in our first game.”

The Lions will be counting on a solid group of upperclassmen to get their team off to a winning start.

Senior quarterback Darius Harris threw for 1,359 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007 and will look to get the ball to fellow senior Scott Ackley in the Lions spread offense.

After competing against Wortham in other sports, Ackley says he is ready to hit the grid iron with the Bulldogs.

“It should be fun,” Ackley said. “I have never played football against Wortham, but we know a lot of the guys from over there from playing them in basketball and baseball.”

Senior defensive end Eric Fisher will be anchoring the Lions defense after recording 86 tackles last season.

“I put a lot of pressure on my seniors,” Doring said. “I lean on them to lead on Friday night.

“This is their year and it is what they will be remembered for.”

The 5-8, 170-pound junior running back Jordan Tennell will provide a change of pace for the Blooming Grove offense, as Tennell will lead the Lions ground attack.

Wortham has a strong cast of their own.

The Bulldogs biggest strength will come from it’s experienced offensive line. Seniors Brain McQueen (5-11, 200) and Brandon Byrd (5-10, 230), along with junior Blake Ridge (6-1, 185) should be able to produce significant holes for running backs Cameron Price and Chris Perez to take advantage of.

For Wortham to get past Blooming Grove, the Bulldogs offensive leader and quarterback Jake Jones will be heavily relied upon to get things going.

Jones took over the starting job against Itasca last season, throwing for 600 yards and 6 touchdowns while rushing the ball for 324 yards and a score in 2007.

On defense, Bulldogs coach John Paul Gillen said junior Blake Ridge will be setting the tone at linebacker in Wortham’s 4-3 set and expects the rest of the team to follow his intensity.

As far as the match up with the Lions, Gillen says he and his team are looking forward to the opportunity to see just how tough they are.

“We are happy to be able to test ourselves against some 2A schools,” Gillen said. “(Blooming Grove) returns some good players and they’re a program that has been on the rise for the past couple of years.

“We are going to have to play hard, carry out our assignments, give our best effort and see what happens.”

The season will kickoff for the Lions and Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m.

        

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