Crosby ready even if its top player is not

[KFDM COOP]

Crosby ready even if its top player is not

By Nick Cioci

The Baytown Sun

Published November 14, 2008 - Updated 27 minutes ago

Crosby’s best football player is questionable for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. Class 4A Division II bidistrict playoff game against Lumberton.

The Cougars, 5-4 overall, take on District 20-4A co-champion and 8-1 Raiders at Humble’s Turner Stadium with Chance Casey’s availability up in the air because of a lingering hamstring injury.

“Chance is day-by-day right now,†Cougar coach Kevin Flanigan said. “Hopefully, he can do more this weekend and play a few plays.â€

Casey only played on two kickoffs last week in the Cougars’ 39-24 loss to C.E. King, giving them a third-place finish in district play with a 5-2 district record.

“Hopefully he can play four kickoffs this week,†Flanigan said. “But I hope they don’t kick it that much.â€

Casey is averaging 33.3 yards a return on kickoffs for the Cougars. Add 15 yards per punt return and you have the second- and third-highest averages in District 19-4A.

Casey also has 112 carries for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns this year for the Cougars, which is good for the sixth-most rushing yards. To go along with that, he has 14 catches for 204 yards and a touchdown, good for the 13th-most catches in the district.

Casey has only played limited minutes for the Cougars since pulling his hamstring back on Oct. 17.

Flanigan said Chance’s injury has made some guys step up and play in different positions.

“You go into the end of the season counting on your best football player and when you don’t have him, you have to overcome that,†Flanigan said. “It’s probably helped them step up and if we are fortunate to get by this one, maybe, in a few weeks, he can go.â€

Flanigan said even with a lot of rain this week, his players have been upbeat in practice and ready to go.

“They understand the importance of this ball game,†he said. “It’s been a good week for them.â€

Flanigan said they aren’t doing anything different at practice to prepare for a big Raiders squad.

“We are just still doing what we do,†he said. “We aren’t going to make a lot of big changes late in the season so we just have to get better at what we do.â€

Flanigan said they have emphasized the run game and playing with effort this week with their players.

“They have a big and physical offense so we have to hold our ground defensively,†Flanigan said. “Along with that we just have to take care of our assignments and realize the fine line we are walking with playing with effort and trying to do too much.

“They just have to take care of their responsibility and play hard and not get into a situation where they are trying to do someone else’s job.â€

[Guest Jags]

Lumberton really big if that guy don't play for Crosby.

[Roughrider]

Sounds like a crock. This kid is good. He will probably play every down.

[Raider88]

It doesn't matter if her plays every down or 4 downs, The Raiders will come prepared!!

[liltex]

Easy now,no reason for name callin(referring to her)Just play your best.New season everybody left can win a game.Play 100% whoever the opponent,may the best team win to play another day.If you win great,if you lose you did your best.

[Raider88]

;D Sometimes I get a case of the crazy fingers and i never proof read.  ;D

[dayton]

casey had a return td called back against dayton. He made a few miss on that one. If lumberton can keep him from busting long returns, they'll be ok. I wouldn't count on him not playing rb at all.... although the backup is not bad either.

[liltex]

Roughrider you saw this coming too? Casey had a field day.I picked this one but ate some crow tonight on Nederland win.Did not see that one as picked King by 14.