The Goliad Tigers are using their bye week to get healthier and sharper.
After three hard non-district games, head coach Kevin Salazar says the open date “hit at a really good time,” giving the 2-1 Tigers time to heal injuries and work on the subtleties that often decide tight district games.
“We’ve got some things we have to go back and clean up,” Salazar informed us. “At the same time, we need to get some guys back to health. It’s a week to reassess ourselves and address some of the preseason knocks and bruises.”
Offense has numerous weapons.
Goliad’s offense has been strong, with an average of 355.3 yards per game. The Tigers accumulated 417 yards in their victory over Industrial.
“We just left a lot of points out there that I felt like we should have capitalized on,” he told me. “We’ve been able to move the ball in all three games — East Bernard, Tidehaven, and Industrial — but we need to complete drives. Critical red-zone penalties and turnovers will kill you. That’s the focus this week: ball security and finishing drives.”
Quarterback Cord Zamzow has emerged as the mastermind behind that attack. In three games, he has completed 27 of 42 throws for 273 yards and one touchdown and rushed 39 times for 153 yards and another touchdown.
“Every week, he improves slightly,” Salazar added. “He’s realizing he doesn’t have to hit a home run every time. Sometimes five or ten yards is plenty. He is becoming more comfortable with his receivers and making reads.
We know he can run, and when he throws well, defenses have to choose whether to cover the pass or load up in the box.
Zamzow has a lot of aid. Lamont Franklin leads the ground game with 28 carries for 302 yards and four touchdowns, while Donovan Perry has added 244 yards on 36 carries. Franklin has 106 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Salazar lauded his offensive line with generating rushing lanes and throwing time, saying their toughness “gives us the chance to be balanced and keep defenses guessing.”
While the offense works on their game, the defense has produced consistent disruption.
Physicality is crucial to defense.
“Defensively, I felt like we played really good, minus a couple of pass breakdowns in the secondary,” Salazar said of the Tigers’ 21-14 victory over Industrial. “Overall, I thought we played well.”
The coach feels that tough, opportunistic defense “will travel” once district play begins.
Salazar was pleased to see the Tigers come back after their 38-7 setback to Tidehaven in Week 2.
“We had five starters out – guys who are two-way starters,” he stated after the Sept. 5 setback. “It was an excellent opportunity for some of our younger players to play against a high-quality opponent. Even if it was a difficult loss, those experiences will help us develop depth in the long term.
D’Adrian Tinney-Anderson, a versatile lineman, is poised to return to the lineup.
“He’s getting close,” Salazar added. “We do not want to rush him. We want to make sure he’s 100% before putting him on the field. He’ll be a huge asset to us both offensively and defensively.”
District play begins September 26.
Goliad’s next task is a seven-game District 15-3A Division I schedule. Edna, the preseason favorite to win the district, has also suffered serious injuries and is 1-2 following a 48-21 loss to Refugio on September 12.
Corpus Christi West Oso and Orange Grove are all 3-0, while Aransas Pass, Corpus Christi London, Mathis, and Palacios all have 1-2 records heading into the bye week.
“Our district’s always pretty competitive,” Salazar remarked. “There are plenty of talented athletes and coaches. With seven district games, you need to get off to a quick start. You don’t want to lose one and have to fight to the finish in order to make the playoffs.”
The bye week allows every team to regroup.
“Everybody gets a chance to rejuvenate, get healthy, reevaluate and get ready for the grind,” according to Salazar. “District play prepares you for the playoffs, and you’ve got to be ready to go pretty quick.”
