Tigers hope to bring Carthage down

Thursday, September 30, 2004
Defensive linemen Travis Trautman (74) and Nathan Gragg (81) close on the scout team ball carrier during Nevada's football practice Wednesday. Nevada faces Carthage during homecoming Friday. Carthage features the best passing attack the Nevada Tigers have seen this season so far and defensive line pressure on the quarterback could be an important factor if Nevada wants to win.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

When the Nevada Tigers host Carthage for their homecoming game Friday, there will be a familiar theme.

For the fourth time in five weeks, the Tigers will be facing a football team that has yet to lose a game.

The Tigers (2-2) opened with Lamar (who had not played yet, thus still had not lost), then played El Dorado Springs (still undefeated) and after getting a break from the unbeatens with a game against East Newton, the Tigers faced (Webb City (now 4-0) and now must face Carthage (also 4-0).

The zero in the loss column will likely be all that is familiar for Nevada, as Carthage brings a team that offensively is nothing like the Tigers have faced yet.

"Offensively they have a vertical passing game," Nevada coach John Skeans said describing the Carthage attack. "They like to throw the deep ball. Their quarterback has nice touch."

The passing attack is a far cry from the ground attacks of El Dorado Springs and Webb City, and the grounded attacks of Lamar and East Newton.

"We haven't played anybody that throws the ball like they do," Skeans said.

Carthage has a quarterback in senior Owen Johns who can get the ball to receivers like Caleb Sanders, Blake Womack and K.C. Hagensieker.

That means Nevada is going to have to try some new things this week since they have not had to deal with such a potent air assault this season.

"We're going to have a couple different packages where we can bring pressure as well as being really physical with their receivers," Skeans said.

Pressuring the quarterback and trying to disrupt the timing of the receivers by being physical are the two quickest ways to bring a good passing game down to earth. Nevada will need to do both things to have success Friday.

But Nevada cannot afford to abandon the run defense. Carthage might like to pass, but they also will spread the field with multiple receivers and run the ball using their lone setback. They have a senior running the ball as well in Bud Ellis. Nevada will need to be disciplined up front and at linebacker to keep Ellis in check.

"We've got to be disciplined and stay home," Skeans said. He warned the Nevada players during practice Wednesday of Carthage's ability to cut the ball back when running.

Carthage is in a similar situation to Nevada, but they are a year ahead in the process.

Last year Carthage had a first-year coach who took over a struggling team and introduced a spread offense with a variety of pass plays and running plays with multiple receivers on the field.

It is a situation that is similar to what Nevada is going through this year.

Now in their second year under Doug Buckmaster, Carthage is seeing results. They have a couple quality wins under their belt in Ozark and defending Class 3 champion Harrisonville.

Now they face a Nevada team that is having to deal with the distraction of homecoming.

It will be a stiff test for Nevada, and Skeans is aware of that.

"It's going to be a tough game. It will be a good challenge for us," Skeans said.

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