If the Mills Comets are going to be successful in 2015, ball control will be a must.
The Comets gave up 32.2 points per game in 2014 and suffered from a rash of turnovers that led to a 3-7 season. Mills has ditched the I-formation it employed in 2014 for the option-based Flexbone.
At a glance
MILLS
COACH Patrick Russell (ninth season)
CONFERENCE 5A-Central
2014 RECORD 3-7
KEY RETURNERS C Horace Mosley (Sr., 6-0, 295), LB Carrion Humphry (Sr., 6-0, 195), DB Jereme Allen (Jr., 5-8, 145), DB Jermain Richard (Sr., 5-8, 160), S Seth Dillard (Jr., 5-11, 155)
SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 LR Parkview
Sept. 11 at LR Hall
Sept 18 at Star City
Sept. 25 Sylvan Hills*
Oct. 2 Open
Oct. 9 LR McClellan*
Oct. 16 at Beebe*
Oct. 23 Pulaski Academy*
Oct. 30 Jacksonville*
Nov. 5 at LR Fair*
*5A-Central game
"We're going to have to hang on to the football and eat up the clock," Mills Coach Patrick Russell said. "We've got to keep our young defense off the field and put points on the board. We can't put the football on the ground and give up cheap scores.
"We have to make people earn everything. We can't give away anything."
Junior quarterback Fred Marbley, 5-6, 145 pounds, will be in charge of keeping the Comets' offense on the field as much as possible. Marbley was in school last season but did not arrive on campus early enough to play. He also missed spring practice because of a broken hand.
"He lifted weights all summer and he's having a good fall camp," Russell said. "He's definitely the prototypical option quarterback. He makes the quick decisions that you want. We think he has a good chance to be a good one."
Marbley is just one of the Comets' running threats. Senior Jermaine Richard, 5-8, 160, junior Rajon Ware, 5-11, 175, and junior Damon Smith, 5-7, 160, will all see action at halfback. Junior Brandon Bunting, 5-9, 215, and Darrion Humphrey, 6-0, 195, will be the team's fullbacks.
While the Comets may be in a "run-first" mode this fall, Russell said his team has not completely abandoned the pass.
"We are a triple-option team, but you can't be totally one-dimensional," Russell said. "We have passes in our offense. ... Generally speaking, it's not that we can't throw it. Option teams want to stay on schedule. They don't want to throw the ball on first-and-10 and wind up second-and-10. They want to run it and be second-and-6 because then you're on schedule."
Defensively, Humphrey returns at middle linebacker and will be asked to lead a young defense.
"He'll be a year older and hopefully a year wiser and a year better," Russell said. "We have a chance to be a good defense. They've gotten after the football, but we don't have a lot of experience or a lot of proven guys there. There are question marks on our defense."
With only 42 players on the roster, Russell said staying away from injuries is a concern.
"Usually, we have around 50, so our numbers are down," Russell said. "I call it the razor's edge. We are on that edge as far as being competitive, having things grow and making the playoffs, maybe. But with an injury here or there, then that's out the window. With some of those players, if we lose one then we may be losing both an offensive and defensive starter."
Sports on 08/19/2015