If Maplewood’s football team is in a giving mood Friday, Red Bank will gladly take it – the ball, that is.
The Lions will be making a trip to Nashville this weekend to take on the Panthers in a second-round game in the TSSAA Class 4A playoffs. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. EST.
One of the key reasons Red Bank (7-4) is still playing is its penchant for causing turnovers. The four the Lions created in last week’s 27-23 playoff victory over Page has them averaging about two and a half takeaways per game.
Red Bank coach Tim Daniels said coming up with a turnover can spark a football team several ways: creating a momentum swing, improving field position and occasionally directly scoring points.
“The first one to the ball carrier we want to hit and wrap up,” Daniels said. “Everybody else we want yanking at the ball.”
Devonte Colvin, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior, leads Red Bank with five fumbles caused. With two recoveries last week – one he caused with a timely hit on a kickoff return that led to the winning touchdown with 5:07 to play – 6-3, 210-pound junior defensive end Keionta Davis leads the Lions in recoveries with three, and he also has an interception.
“I was just thinking ‘I have to make a play’ when I ran down there. Early in the game I saw he ran with the ball out,” Davis said of the Patriot from whom he dislodged the ball. “When I got there I just hit him, and something told me I needed to strip the ball. I couldn’t believe it landed in front of me, and I recovered it.”
Red Bank has been equally adept at creating turnovers in the passing game. Senior free safety Kelvin Clay (6-1, 180) leads with five interceptions.
“Coming into the season I wanted to get at least double figures,” Clay said. “I got half of that and I missed two games, so I guess that’s OK.”
Clay said the defensive backs do what they’re coached to do by defensive coordinator Kenny Cobble and his staff. There is a method to what they’re trying to do.
“You’ve got to bait the quarterback,” Clay said. “You’ve got to make it appear they’re open. Then when the ball’s in the air, you go get it.”
Clay has returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and junior Kameno Watson scored off another. The Lions also have made two punt blocks that resulted in touchdowns, including last week when Donavan Hargis provided the block and Avery Hubbard ended up with the ball.
Daniels said the Lions defense will need to keep up the good work it has provided all season. His concern now is that the offense doesn’t give the ball back if the defense takes it away, especially in a game the magnitude of Friday’s.
“You always want to take care of the football,” Daniels said. “We’ve been better offensively the last three or four weeks. We’ve been sporadic throughout the year. You take four or five plays out of each ballgame and we’re such a different ball team, or we’d have a different record anyhow.”
Red Bank could use a few opportunities with a short field to work with against Maplewood (10-1). The Panthers have held eight opponents to seven points or less.
“When I tackle I always look to put my arm where the football is,” Davis said. “I look for any opportunity I can. We have to make a couple of turnovers this week.”
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653.