Morrison has Bobcats poised for playoff run
"This district has something that I've never been a part of as far as the caliber of talent week in and week out." - Orangefield Coach Blake Morrison
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Orangefield Head Football Coach Blake Morrison was hesitant as his Bobcats entered the District 21-3A season last year.

He had heard all the early talk about the district being one of the toughest in the state and knew his team was in for a big challenge.

"It was very tough," Morrison said. "You have seven district ballgames and none of them were an easy opponent for us. Everybody we faced was capable of being a playoff team in any other district in the state.

"Week in and week out, it was grind," Morrison said. "As coaches, we had to watch out as far as our practices to not bang ourselves up so much because we were going into this district and we needed everybody healthy."

Morrison said the 2006 season was a "rollercoaster ride" for his Bobcats.

"We had some injuries that we had to get over and some key injuries in some games that cost us some losses," Morrison said. "But for us, it was a season of close ones. It could have been different if we would have had some of our key players available for some marquee games.

"(This district) was something that I've never been a part of as far as the caliber of talent week in and week out," Morrison said.

He said one of the highs for the season was their second district contest when the Bobcats entered The Bone Yard and ran over Jasper 33-7.

"We caught Jasper after their Kirbyville game and they were in a bit of a lull," Morrison said. "We got some breaks early and was able to not give up the lead when we had. It was a big win for us."

Even now with a years experience under his belt in District 21-3A, Morrison said he doesn't think it will get much easier this season.

"If this district stays together for the next 16 years, it will still be a battle every week because the coaches in this district do a great job with their teams," Morrison said. "This district produced a state champion in basketball and baseball and our football teams went three rounds deep in the playoffs. This district is like the Big 12 South almost."

For this year's "Big 12 South" play, Morrison will return six offensive starters and four defensive starters.

One key loss that the Bobcats will have to overcome is quarterback Brett Ramsey, who graduated last year.

Ramsey had a strong senior campaign for Orangefield but Morrison will be looking for a good season out of senior Jerrod Helton, 5-10, 180 as the starting signal-caller.

Helton played wide receiver last year for the Bobcats. Jasper fans might remember him as the receiver who ran wild through the secondary against the Bulldogs. He caught four touchdowns during the season last year.

"Helton played quarterback as a freshman on our ninth grade team and has been on varsity since his sophomore year," Morrison said. "He backed up Brett last year and he has done it before."

Helton has received quite a few reps at the position during the Bobcats' sevenon seven league play this summer.

"We try to play once or twice a week," Morrison said. "We're competitive in the games. We've won our share and we've lost our share."

Other key players returning will be tight end Jeremy Granger, 6-2, 210, and running back Shea Mayo, 5-8, 165, who will assume the ball carrying duties for the Bobcats this year.

Morrison believes this season will be similar to last year with all the district squads competing for the three-playoff spots.

Early predictions, though, point to Kirbyville as the district favorite. Morrison knows with the high number of returning players Kirbyville has coming back, that pre-season honor might be correct.

"Kirbyville has a bunch of kids coming back and they have a good junior high group coming up as well," Morrison said. "And from what I hear, some of those ninth graders may play on the varsity.

"It don't surprise me that the media has picked Kirbyville to be on top but West Orange-Stark is just as good as they've always been," Morrison said. "When those two teams meet, that will be a great game to go to."

Morrison, though, cautioned not to count out any team in the district.

"Silsbee still has some big boys up front and they have some skilled kids that can run," Morrison said.

"And Jasper has coach Brooks back and I know the kind of coach he is and his kids are going to get after it. Jasper will not be 2-8 this year," Morrison said. "They will be the most improved team in this district."

He pointed to new coaches at Bridge City and Hamshire-Fannett who will infuse a new attitude to their players this coming season as well as the always-threatening Hardin-Jefferson.

"There is not anybody in this district that you can breathe a sigh of relief because you are playing them," Morrison said. "Everybody does a good job and it should be a very exciting year."