From The Citizen

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: CLEAR LAKE

By: CHUCK HLAVA , Citizen Staff

09/07/2004

Could be Falcons' best season in years

Ah, it's good to be King.
As last year's District 24-5A football champion with a 5-0 record, Clear Lake was and is king. When you win a title, technically you're still king until someone takes you out.
In this year's league race, the Falcons are favored in many circles to repeat, despite the addition of a few wrinkles into the 24-5A pot, namely a very tough Pearland team.
What looks good for the Lake surge to the Promised Land part 2 is the fact that head coach Troy Aduddell and his staff are blessed with quite a few starters coming back from last year's 9-2 campaign. There are 14 of them (8 offense and 6 defense) and counting.
Aduddell downplays that 14 count, preferring to call some of them, "Returning lettermen that saw a lot of playing time.
"We had some sizeable leads in several games and were able to play a lot of kids," he added.
But no matter how you call it, the Falcons should be headed for post-season one way or another. And by Aduddell's own account, the team is ready.
"The kids are anxious and excited," he said. "The thing is we have to take care of business. With Pearland now in district it's going to make it that much harder. That means the other teams will try harder."
While some teams set goal after goal, Aduddell makes it simple: to make it into post-season by outscoring other teams.
"We don't really have many offensive and defensive goals," Aduddell said.
"Our kids are focusing on giving up less points than we score in each game. And we want the other team to give up more turnovers than us," he added.
In a nutshell, Clear Lake should have parity on both sides of the ball: score a lot on offense and have a tough and offensive-minded defense.
What? A team that is good on offense AND defense?
With Aduddell known as a defensive-minded coach, the Falcons have been good on defense during his tenure.
But former Ball head coach Paul Lanier came in last season as offensive coordinator and installed the option and Clear Lake's playing resume changed. In 2002 the Falcons scored 191 points. Last year, the count went to 284 points scored.
As a team, the Falcons have veterans in nearly all areas except the defensive end and secondary, where they lost four all district players: Russell Schober, Michael Nemer and Michael Plumlee and Will McMullen. But Lake is filling those spots with talented players.
Scott Oswald, last year's district Offensive MVP, returns to direct the option attack as quarterback. He didn't throw the ball much during the regular season (38 times, 17 completions), but he ran for over 800 yards.
Aduddell has much faith in Oswald's second year at the helm.
"He brings more to the table this year," Aduddell said of Oswald. "He has more weight (192 lbs.), strength and speed and is reading the defenses better. His knowledge has really expanded and he has become more football savvy."
Coming back in the offensive backfield are Elrick Jones (655 yards-first team all district) and Geno Blow (400 yards). Senior halfback Daniel McCalib is also expected handle the ball a lot.
Turnovers, especially fumbles, may be a thorn in the side of the Falcons due to their offensive style of play. Like all coaches, Aduddell wants to keep those at an absolute minimum.
Kyle Chism, the all district first team punter, will return with his 40-yard average.
To keep the enemy defenses honest, Lanier will have Oswald throwing to several receivers all over the field and then some. Guarding such a wide-open and spread offense, opposing defensive backs may be looking for Lake receivers in the parking lots. Senior Jeff Giesinger and junior Vincent Brooks will be among the half dozen receiving corps.
The Falcons graduated several all district linemen but among the returnees are Ben Volk (first team) and Ryan Johnson (second team).
Defensive coordinator Dwayne Lane's squad will be buoyed by all district linebacker Jamie McMurchy (first team), end Jeff Wheeler, linebacker Ryan Johnson, Ryan Nisbet, Chase Mueller and Gary Champi in the backfield.
Champi, a senior who has seen a lot of action on Clear Lake's ice hockey squad, is a welcome starter for the Falcons.
"He loves this program and we're glad he's here," Aduddell said.
The Falcons have decided who the leaders are as McMurchy, Mueller, Oswald and Volk were voted team co-captains prior to the start of the regular season.
"I think those are great choices. They know where the team is headed," Aduddell said.
With a mostly senior lineup on both sides of the ball, this could be Clear Lake's best season in quite a while.
But Aduddell is going to take it cautiously one game at a time. While and the coaching his staff and the entire team want another district title, Aduddell shows a lot of respect for the rest of the teams in 24-5A.
"A lot of folks will be fighting to be in the top three and we hope to be one of them," he said.