CAM FOOTBALL: Cougars counting on improved defensive play to turn it around

CAM hosts Southwest Valley team that is 3-1 and averaging 50 points per week

By Drew Herron - NT Sports Editor / Sept. 18, 2013

ANITA – A 1-3 start for Cumberland-Anita-Massena has some folks scratching their head.

But after four weeks of reflection, Cougars head coach Joe Wollum says he doesn’t have to dig too deep into the game film to figure out what has been spoiling his team’s chances.

It’s the defense, plain and simple.

If the Cougars defense can become more adapt at getting off the field, then it will allow the CAM offense more time to go to work.

“It’s been talked about all year,” Wollum says. “We need to find a way to get off the field on third down.”

Hard losses to a pair of Top 10 teams have put the Cougars into a hole early, and this week, another surprisingly top tier squad moves in on the schedule.

Southwest Valley this year combines last year’ s squads from Corning and Villisca, and the teal-and-black Timberwolves are certainly off to a strong start at 3-1. A roster 37 players deep has helped make for better competition at key positions, and the inaugural Southwest Valley team has proven to make for a strong 8-Man team.

“They are a very physical team that has some speed as well,” coach Wollum says. “And when you watch film, they do an excellent job on offense of mixing up the looks. They are certainly going to be a handful.”

SW Valley has shown thus far to be able to run an effective offense that employs read options, spread passing sets, jet sweeps, and a double tight I-formation formulated at running the ball right at you. The Timberwolves offense is diverse, complicated, and effective when run correctively. Slowing it down becomes priority No. 1 for the Cougars’ defense.

Under center is senior quarterback Jordan Stuart (3), a crafty player equally adept to run and throw. As a passer, Stuart is completing 57 percent of his attempts (21-of-37) for 383 yards and 7 touchdowns to no INTs.

Also moving the SWV offense is senior running back Zach Barton (42), who has 500 yards and 7 touchdowns on 60 carries, marking an average of 8.3 yards-per-carry.

Southwest Valley took care of Nishnabotna 51-14 last Friday, one week removed from a tightly contested battle with Sidney that the Cowboys took 30-26. In all of the three victories this season for the Timberwolves, they have scored more than 50, which is now their weekly average.

Coach Wollum says that winning the turnover battle could be a difference maker, as the Cougars have had their share of self-inflicted wounds. Most recently in a 45-34 loss to Fremont-Mills in which two fumbles, two picks and a couple bad snaps cost the Cougars a game they might have otherwise won.

“We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot,” coach Wollum says. “We are not a good enough football team to expect to make silly mistakes, and turn the ball over, and then win games.”

At times, CAM has been effective with its offense, moving the chains and sustaining drives. Sometimes the possessions ended with points, sometimes not. But Wollum says the Cougars need more of them, and again, that comes back to the defense’s ability to give the Cougars a fresh set of downs on a consistent basis.

This is now the second week of the District (8) schedule that leads up to a playoff berth. Losing last week dropped the Cougars level at 1-1 in District games, and suffering a second loss right away will put CAM in a bind as it fights with Sidney, Fremont-Mills, Southwest Valley and Lenox for four playoff spots.

“We can’t start 1-2 in this District,” coach Wollum says. “As a coach, you hate to tell the kids that this is a must-win, but it might be that way.”

Playing at home in Anita is another motivating factor for the Cougars, who are eager to wash away a disappointing effort in its only other home game so far this season, a 66-12 whipping at the hands of River Valley (Correctionville) on Aug. 30.

“We laid an egg against River Valley, and we are eager to show our fans that we are a much better football team that we were the last time we played at home,” coach Wollum said this week.

8-MAN: Southwest Valley (3-1/2-1) at CAM (1-3/1-1) at Anita – 7 PM

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