Post by rkb on May 23, 2008 13:33:55 GMT -5
www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=273842&pub=1&div=Sports
MudCats remember last year's road woes
5/23/2008 6:29:59 AM
Daily Journal
BY JOHN L. PITTS
Daily Journal
The Mississippi MudCats enter a dangerous portion of their schedule tonight in Augusta, Ga.
They're coming off their first loss of the season -their first loss ever at BancorpSouth Arena, for that matter -and now play four of their last five regular-season games on the road.
Kickoff between the MudCats (8-1) and Augusta Colts (6-4) is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT.
Last year, under similar circumstances, the MudCats went 3-3 down the stretch -with all three of their losses coming on the road.
MudCats coach Brain Brents is mindful of last year's swoon, and determined that his team won't suffer through a repeat.
"We found out a lot about ourselves last year," Brents said this week. "I think that's going to help us as this season wears on."
His team beat the Colts 68-51 in Tupelo on April 26, roaring to a 36-3 advantage behind perhaps the team's best quarter of the year. For Augusta, it triggered a three-game skid which the team snapped last week against winless Canton (0-9).
Mike Rathe, who played at South Carolina, is expected to start at quarterback for the Colts. He's had two seven-touchdown games, both in wins, since joining the team in mid-April.
"They look like a much different team with him at quarterback," Brents said, whose team didn't have to face Rathe earlier in the season -he was still busy assisting Steve Spurrier with the Gamecocks' spring workouts..
The MudCats' offense is still one of the league's best, averaging 7.2 yards a play and piling up 73 touchdowns. But it's appeared out of synch at times over the last five games, including last-minute wins against Carolina (37-33) and Florence (40-39).
Augusta has the league third-ranked defense, forcing 27 turnovers -including a league-best 16 fumble recoveries.
The last regular-season home game for the MudCats is May 31 against Carolina.
MudCats remember last year's road woes
5/23/2008 6:29:59 AM
Daily Journal
BY JOHN L. PITTS
Daily Journal
The Mississippi MudCats enter a dangerous portion of their schedule tonight in Augusta, Ga.
They're coming off their first loss of the season -their first loss ever at BancorpSouth Arena, for that matter -and now play four of their last five regular-season games on the road.
Kickoff between the MudCats (8-1) and Augusta Colts (6-4) is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT.
Last year, under similar circumstances, the MudCats went 3-3 down the stretch -with all three of their losses coming on the road.
MudCats coach Brain Brents is mindful of last year's swoon, and determined that his team won't suffer through a repeat.
"We found out a lot about ourselves last year," Brents said this week. "I think that's going to help us as this season wears on."
His team beat the Colts 68-51 in Tupelo on April 26, roaring to a 36-3 advantage behind perhaps the team's best quarter of the year. For Augusta, it triggered a three-game skid which the team snapped last week against winless Canton (0-9).
Mike Rathe, who played at South Carolina, is expected to start at quarterback for the Colts. He's had two seven-touchdown games, both in wins, since joining the team in mid-April.
"They look like a much different team with him at quarterback," Brents said, whose team didn't have to face Rathe earlier in the season -he was still busy assisting Steve Spurrier with the Gamecocks' spring workouts..
The MudCats' offense is still one of the league's best, averaging 7.2 yards a play and piling up 73 touchdowns. But it's appeared out of synch at times over the last five games, including last-minute wins against Carolina (37-33) and Florence (40-39).
Augusta has the league third-ranked defense, forcing 27 turnovers -including a league-best 16 fumble recoveries.
The last regular-season home game for the MudCats is May 31 against Carolina.