Young Barbers Hill squad to challenge Dawgs
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Jasper Head Football Coach Thomas Brooks had a simple message to his players for this week's contest with Barbers Hill.

Hold on to the football.

Jasper suffered through eight turnovers last Friday, Aug. 31 in a 27-15 loss to Livingston and will look to rebound this week against the Barbers Hill Eagles on the road.

"I told the guys that this week we need to hold on to the football," Brooks said. "We have to get to the point where we don't beat ourselves. I think we beat ourselves more than Livingston beat us. If somebody is going to beat you, they have to be better than you. That's where we have to get and right now, we are not there yet.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S DEFENSE gave a strong effort against Livingston. Pictured above, Darren Beavers (12) stops Livingston's Stacey Randolph as Michael Crowell (72) and Trae Horn (52) come in to help. Pictured left, Dominque Bailey shakes a tackler during a punt return.

"We have to learn how to win the tight ballgames," Brooks said. "We need to learn to do the things it takes to win and quit thinking about trying not to lose."

Barbers Hill will return only five starters from last year's unbeaten district team.

One key returning player is linebacker Joe Sexton, who recorded 170 tackles and three interceptions last year.

"They will slant a lot on defense to try to get penetration," Brooks said. "And they won't let you get deep behind them in the secondary."

Brooks said the Dawgs would have a remedy for the Eagles' secondary. "We will just throw some short passes and let our athletes be athletes," Brooks said. "We also need to be able to run the football this week."

"They are young as far as experience is concerned," Brooks said.

The Eagles still have a run-oriented offense but Brooks noted that this year's Barbers Hill squad is not passing the ball as they have in the past.