STAFF REPORT
While the thermometer hit triple digits, the heat couldn’t diminish the exuberance of the Lehman Lobos during their scrimmage against the Cedar Creek Eagles on Friday.
Perhaps it was due to one fact: Lehman’s varsity football program had never held a scrimmage at Lobo Field.
“It was the first time anyone has done anything like this,” Lobo head coach Todd Raymond said. “[The players] were excited to do something on campus. That caused the jitters early on. And just the fact it was [against] someone else … I think that was a big part of it.”
Despite the jitters, the Lobos completed their scrimmage, setting themselves up for their season opener against Bastrop on Friday.
On offense, the Lobos focused their progress on the seniority of their offensive line. The unit, which Raymond said was “the strength of our team,” helped the Lobos spring several big runs.
It was highlighted by a lengthy yard scamper by senior J.R Torres, who shrugged off several would-be tacklers for a huge gain. Raymond said Torres’ lateral movements and agility aided his run.
Torres lauded the play of the line. He said their experience played a role in the offenses’ success. Team cohesion also played a factor.
“Our offensive line put themselves in the gaps so we could get the big runs,” Torres said. “It’s good to have our line back. They know what they are doing.”
Friday also saw the emergence of running backs Brett Wagner and Jameson Castillo. It was paired with the continued progress of the passing game, led by senior quarterback Jeremy Schilhab.
While some communication issues were present, Raymond said Schilhab and his sophomore wide outs were continuing to move forward.
That was exemplified by several key receptions by wide receiver Jay Sayles.
“We know what Jeremy can do, we know what he’s capable of,” Raymond said. “It was good to see what Brett and Jameson could do.”
Defensively, the Lobos worked against a revamped Cedar Creek offense. Torres, who also plays defensive back, said the team adhered to the Eagle offense. Their run of the spread was similar to the Lobos’ attack.
It was that familiarity that helped the Lobos. Lehman’s first team defense limited the Eagles to zero points; the second team allowed only a touchdown.
The defenses ability to extricate themselves from dicey situations was a key point. The secondary played a role in that success.
With the seniority of the defensive backfield, the Lobos created havoc for the Eagles. Junior linebacker Jacob Tamez tallied an interception during the scrimmage.
“We got ourselves a couple of bad situations, but [the defense] got themselves out of it,” Raymond said.
Overall, Raymond said the scrimmage was a positive step. The Lobos committed no turnovers and limited penalties. However, he highlighted several issues.
Fixing mental miscues was one aspect. Staying healthy was also imperative for a team that’s lacking some depth.
“We have to eliminate mental mistakes,” Raymond said. If you can put yourself in a position where you don’t have them, you have a chance.”
With Bastrop looming, continued team cohesion will be a pivotal talking point.
“It’s knowing what we are supposed to do, and communicating with each other,” Torres said.
