Coahulla Creek puts forth best offensive output of the season
After a refreshing bye-week, Coahulla bounced back onto the turf in high spirits to play Sonoraville. They went into this game prepared, focused, and ready to battle. The Colts fought the entire game, but fell 28-7 to the Phoenix. However, the offense “found their identity” on the field, breaking through to get on the scoreboard for the first time this season.
The Creek had a couple of discouraging weeks going up against Northwest, Chattooga, and North Cobb Christian, but that changed Friday night when Waelyn Baliles connected with Tyler Douglas to score the first 6 points for Coahulla this year. Brett Pause was able to follow-up and make it 7 with a kick for the first time this season. “It is encouraging for us,” Coach Carter claimed, “it’s like a weight has finally been lifted.” Carter saw a “cleaner game” all around with Baliles hitting his receivers, and the running backs finding the gaps.
Waelyn Baliles went 11/22 this game, passing for 149 yards and rushing for 38 yards. Baliles’ dual ability to pass and run earned the Colts many advancements downfield, putting them closer and closer to scoring. By the third quarter, the team had come close on many occasions with passes to Wyatt Mann and Kobe King, but the breakthrough catch was caught by the leading receiver and rusher, Tyler Douglas.
Tyler Douglas was the lead the team on both sides of the ball Friday – serving as the Colts leading rusher, receiver, and tackler. Offensively, he had 14 carries for a total of 75 yards, 2 catches for 55 yards, and one touchdown reception. “This accomplishment has just shown improvement,” says Douglas, “and it shows how hard our team has been working.” Douglas along with his other fellow receivers were key figures in this game, pushing the ball past the chains every play they could.
Coach Carter emphasized the performance of the defense this game, and besides a couple mistakes, felt as if the team held Sonoraville’s offense greatly. “We hope we can keep minimizing those mistakes, and continue to close the gap.” Chevy Joyce shut down their run game quickly in the first with a 4 yard tackle for loss, and Jackson Lowery followed in the second quarter with a sack for a loss of 9 yards. Sonoraville did end up putting up 28 points against the defense, and leading tackler Tyler Douglas reflected on those big plays by saying “we need to stop giving up on big plays, and finish the job on late downs.” Douglas led the defense with 9 tackles this game along with his leading plays on offense.
The first and second quarter may have started off a little rocky with the Colts trailing 21-0, but they never gave up. They fought hard throughout the game and “showed a lot of grit” as Carter described. The result of their relentlessness led the team to their first set of points this season and will encourage them to keep fighting as they improve this season.
“This week we need to work on execution and fighting whenever it gets tough.” Douglas advises as they head into this next week. They prepare to take on Rockmart at The Creek this week, and Douglas knows by Friday they need to be able to stop them defensively and drive downfield on offense. Carter also wants this week to be a week of sharpening up skills, and “building off the momentum” from the Sonoraville game to eventually “find our identity” against the Jackets.
Coahulla Creek will kickoff at Colts Stadium at 7:30pm Friday night against the Rockmart Yellow Jackets.
Article written by Ava Howell