St. Paul faces Brazos Christian to start district
by Jason Chlapek
Friday, October 7, 2011
Gonzales Inquirer Article | St. Paul Cardinal Football | Return to Shiner Home Page
SHINER -- According to St. Paul football coach Paul Johnston, every team in TAPPS Division IV-District 3 is 0-0.
"We’re in a whole new season now," Johnston said. "Every game and every play are more important. We have to cut down on our mistakes and the bar has been raised."
While St. Paul (5-1) has played six games, Saturday’s game is more pivotal than the first six. The Cardinals host Bryan Brazos Christian (6-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Comanche Field in Shiner.
Johnston is not just putting emphasis on Saturday’s game because it is the district opener. He also has concern over his team’s opponent.
"They have a very powerful running game," Johnston said. "They’ll line up and run at you. They base out of the I, but they’ll also have full-house backfields and unbalanced lines."
The Eagles have run the ball at will on their first six opponents. Jaxton McNair is the team’s leading rusher with more than 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
Brazos Christian averages nearly 350 rushing yards and 40 points per game. Defensively, the Eagles operate out of an odd front, and have surrendered 109 points on the season.
St. Paul and Brazos Christian have one common opponent going into Saturday’s contest -- Bryan St. Joseph. The Eagles beat St. Joseph, 39-6, on Sept. 16, while the Cardinals whipped St. Joseph, 70-13, on Sept. 24.
After six games, Johnston feels he has a pretty good gauge on where his team is.
"Our kids have heart and determination, and they don’t quit," he said. "They’re going to play hard to the end."
While Johnston praised his team’s attitude and work ethic, he also expressed a few concerns.
"We need to work on blocking and tackling," he said. "It doesn’t matter what level you play on or what offense or defense you run, if you don’t block or tackle, you won’t be successful."
Johnston also expressed concern about the lack of depth on his team, which is now down to 20 players because of injuries. But there is relief on the way as St. Paul has a bye following Saturday’s game.
"The bye couldn’t come at a better time," Johnston said. "It will give us a chance to rest and recover before playing our last three district games."
Following Saturday’s game and next week’s bye, the Cardinals return to action Oct. 21 when they take visit San Antonio St. Gerard. St. Paul then visits Sacred Heart on Oct. 29 before closing out the regular season Nov. 4 against Austin St. Dominic Savio at Comanche Field.
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