Douglas High lineman Curtis Haliwell (73) kicks out to block during Douglas’ 20-13 win over Reno on Friday night.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Friday night will be another rowdy atmosphere in Minden as Douglas High School football is set for its Homecoming game with a 5-1 record.
The Tiger football team has been a show to watch this fall, finding multiple ways to win close games over the first half of the season.
After a 20-13 win over Reno on Friday night to open up league play — the game was the Tigers’ first in 5A-Division II — Douglas is ready to continue making statements around the North.
COUGARS WILL PASS IT
If Reno was the first true passing team Douglas had faced this fall, Spanish Springs will undoubtedly be the second.
The Cougars’ offense has put together 1,641 yards through six games this fall, with 1,181 of those coming through the air, roughly 72 percent of their total offense.
“This week is going to be a little bit harder,” said Douglas head coach Kyle Mays. “They are going to be very similar. Both offenses are very dynamic.”
Tyson McNeil (wearing No. 10) will be at quarterback for Spanish Springs; the junior has thrown for 11 touchdown passes and has yet to throw an interception this season.
His ability to be smart with the ball has led the Cougars to a 3-3 record.
“He’s a very, very good decision maker and he’s got weapons on the edge. He’s got a lot of athletes to throw the ball to,” said Mays. “They’ve got some dynamic playmakers we are going to have to account for all over the field.”
Some of those weapons will be Brady Hummel (No. 1) and JJ Stewart (No. 19), who have pulled in 349 and 228 yards through the air, respectively.
Hummel and Hunter Selby (No. 11) lead the team in receiving touchdowns with four each.
Defensively, Spanish Springs will run a standard four down lineman and two linebackers look while mixing-and-matching personnel in the secondary.
“They have some big, aggressive lineman that just fly to the football and their linebackers get downhill fast,” said Mays. “Their defense swarms very effectively. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Tyle Depape (No. 28) is a player on the Cougar defense Mays said Douglas will need to be aware of.
BIG MOMENTS, BIG PLAYERS
Being able to win close games has been the Tigers’ identity this season.
It’s starting to become emblematic of who Douglas is given the way the Tigers have played several close games into the fourth quarter.
Those clutch moments have seen several players come up in big spots to help secure wins.
Justin Parra-McGee played a big role on the defensive line in Douglas’ win over Reno last Friday doing everything in his power — along with the rest of the defensive line — to keep the Husky quarterback from having time to sling the ball downfield.
“He just plays so much and plays so hard. Friday night, he didn’t get a lot of sacks or tackles, but just working his tail off and committing to his job on every play,” said Mays. “Going back and watching the film, he was just phenomenal at times.”
As a whole, the Tiger defense is allowing 18.5 points per game through six games.
Even with their defensive prowess, Mays knows the Cougars will have plenty of tricks up their sleeve come game time.
“That coaching staff does a great job of coaching them up,” said Mays. “You always have to be ready for a trick play, whether its offense, defense or special teams.”
