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November 5, 2009

Focus on the present

With playoff future decided, Hornets not looking past Willis

By Tom Waddill

The Hornets know that tonight’s regular-season finale has no bearing on their postseason plans. Huntsville, which clinched a playoff spot with a victory over Magnolia two weeks ago, is headed to the Division I, or big-school, bracket to meet Buda Hays in a bi-district game next week.

The Hornets’ playoff road stays the same whether they win or lose tonight’s home game against Willis. Huntsville (5-1 in District 18-4A, 6-3 overall) plays the Rebels of Hays Consolidated at 2 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Georgetown High School.

Huntsville coach Mitchell Coey and his assistants have not said a word to the Hornets about Buda Hays, the Rebels’ winning tradition or anything else pertaining to the playoffs.

Coey wants his players focused on tonight’s game, and tonight’s game only.

“We want to try and play a perfect game. No penalties and no turnovers, that’s what we’re after,” Coey said after practice Thursday. “We need to continue to improve and get ready for the playoffs.”

Huntsville has reeled off four wins in a row. Since losing to Brenham in the second week of the district season, the Hornets have beaten Waller, Montgomery, Magnolia and Magnolia West by an average of more than 15 points.

That margin would have been greater but Huntsville’s defense gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 41-28 win over Magnolia, then after building a 39-6 lead last week, Magnolia West scored a pair of touchdowns on a long kickoff return and a 59-yard run late in the third period.

Shane Martin, Huntsville’s fiery defensive coordinator, wants the Hornets to tighten up and start tackling better before they head to the postseason. He wants to see improvements starting at 7:30 tonight.

“To be honest, I feel like we’ve jelled as a defensive unit, but in the last couple of weeks, while we haven’t taken a step back, we haven’t gotten better either,” Martin said. “We’ve got to make tackles and we’ve got to make some big plays. We’ve held our own, but I feel like we can get a lot better.

“I want our guys to step up and have a big ballgame against Willis,” Martin added. “We’re at home, and this is the last time our seniors are going to play at Bowers. We need to put on a good show. Our fans deserve that.”

The Hornets say they’re ready to put on another good show. They did that at home three weeks ago in a thrilling 18-15 win over Montgomery.

Junior Mark Wheeler believes it’s important to continue building momentum for what the Hornets are hoping will be a lengthy playoff run. They don’t want another one-and-done playoff appearance like last year.

“We need to keep playing like a team,” said Wheeler, one of the Hornets’ many versatile players who contributes on both offense and defense. “When we started playing as a team, we started producing better.

“We’ll be playing tomorrow’s game for the seniors. It’s their last game at Bowers, so we want them to go out with a bang.”

The Hornets started making some noise offensively a few weeks ago. With quarterback Justin Gilbert leading the way, they have averaged 43 points a game in the last two wins.

Offensive coordinator Kane Harris said there is plenty of room for improvement.

“Pass protection is one area where we can get better,” Harris said. “We’ve got to make sure we always protect our passer. We can also get better overall in everything we’re doing.”

Coey, Harris and Martin don’t want the Hornets to get satisfied. They’re glad to see their players having fun in practice and during games, but they’re going to keep pushing because

“A team never stays the same,” Coey stressed. “You either get better or worse, and we want to keep getter better every week.”

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