Joplin’s improved defense should get a major test tonight.
How well do the Eagles react after they’ve been burned deep a couple of times?
It’s likely to happen tonight, regardless of field conditions, when the Eagles play their first road game of the season at Springfield Hillcrest. The Hornets’ Dorial Green-Beckham is one of the most highly regarded receivers in the nation.
“The odds are it’s going to happen with that type of athlete,” said Doug Buckmaster, Joplin coach. “You have to minimize his opportunities. You can not allow him to score back-to-back-to-back touchdowns. Somewhere in there, you have to make some stops, create some turnovers.”
Green-Beckham, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior, is a spectacular athlete, a two-sport starter since his freshman year. He helped Hillcrest win the state basketball championship and was the Class 4 100-meter dash champion.
“When you go into a game like this, you’ve got to try and stop the big man,” Buckmaster said. “You can’t let No. 5 beat you. You have to try and take him away. But when you do that, it causes deficiencies in other areas.
“We have to play well against their run game in order to defend him. And Hillcrest has the capability of running the football.”
Joplin takes a 2-0 record into the game, with both wins in Ozark Conference competition. Hillcrest is 1-1, nipping Seneca 20-15 in a nonconference game before falling 17-6 to Lebanon last Friday.
“Our confidence level is probably pretty high (on defense),” Buckmaster said. “We’ve been doing a lot of good things. We’re kind of in the same boat as last year (with the good start). We’re pleased with how we’re playing, but it needs to be something that continues.
“We have more depth (after beginning a two-platoon system). We’ve been doing that with five sophomores on the field (on defense) and this week it may be six. We feel like we’ve gotten better defensively, but we need to prove that week in and week out.”
Joplin isn’t the only team to improve defensively.
“I think we’re better,” Beckham said of the Hornets. “So far we have played pretty well (including shutting out Lebanon in the second half last Friday). ... But we’re not playing well enough on offense to win.
“We have a good player. He’s no secret. But our delivery system last year (with quarterback Mitch Jenkins, now at Missouri State) was more effective than it is this year. This kid (Green-Beckham) has something like 15 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns in two games. I’m not sure when that became a bad performance, but we have to find some ways to be effective offensively away from him.”
Buckmaster sees the potential in the Hillcrest offense.
“They have some very good talent,” he said. “(Michael) McShane, the starter last year at running back, is lining up at a slot. Jeremy Coleman, who plays opposite of Green-Beckham, is one of the top receivers in Southwest Missouri. They have a good running back in Donovan Mathis. They’re breaking in a new quarterback (junior Matt Futrell).”
At this stage of the season, the Eagles have two goals, Buckmaster said.
“We need to win the game,” he said. “We would take a one-point win. But we need to keep improving as a team. We need a win and we want to play well in doing so.”
Game notes: Shumate Stadium, the home field for the Hornets, was already soggy on Thursday, and that was before two middle-school games, Beckham said. ... Additional rain could have Springfield school officials activating a backup plan to play on the turf at JFK Stadium. ... Joplin seniors Stevan Freeborn and Griffin Sonaty led in production rating and total tackles, respectively, against West Plains last Friday.
Sports
September 10, 2010
Hillcrest receiver a big test for Joplin
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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