PRC enters this week with lots of confidence
Published 7:00 am Thursday, September 14, 2017
CARRIERE — After losing its third consecutive game to Forrest County, Pearl River Central’s captain Willie Reece said this team is due for a win.
“We have great talent and the leadership is there. We just need to put together a complete game and we will be back,” Reece said.
Last week, the Blue Devils had an open week to prepare for its upcoming bout against St. Stanislaus and for the first time this season, the weather cooperated enough to allow the Devils to avoid hiccups during practice.
The two opponents have met 24 times, in which the Rock-a-Chaws have taken the most wins with a 14-10 record. The last time these two teams encountered one another, PRC lost 42-0 in 2008.
But Friday night, Dolan said that will be set aside as the Blue Devils will work to get its first win of the season.
“St. Stanislaus is a big and physical team and we know they are going to be a challenge,” PRC Head Coach Larry Dolan said. “They haven’t quit; we won’t quit; this community won’t quit on us so we just got to watch film and get better.”
PRC has only scored three touchdowns so far this season, all caught by wide receiver Reece in the Blue Devils’ last bout, and have scored 24 points overall.
At this time last year, PRC had already thrown five touchdowns, ran in eight and posted 102 points through three weeks.
But PRC lost some talent and nearly all of its leadership in last year’s seniors, creating a difficult scenario for the inexperienced Blue Devils. Now, the team embarks on a potentially season-changing game this Friday, where the opportunity to turn the season before entering district play.
St. Stanislaus is no easy team to defeat, due to a dynamic offense that can beat an opponent through the air or on the ground.
Rock-a-Chaws quarterback Jakob Greer has completed 48 percent of his passes, throwing for nearly 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns this season. Greer also began the season rushing for 107 yards in his team’s lone win of the season against Biloxi.
Greer has a committee of backfield threats to help him get down the field with seniors Andrew Trapani and Cahill Marlowe combining for 197 yards and one touchdown.
On another phase of the offense, Greer has a pair of wideouts who have caught 10 passes each and average an impressive 19.2 and 12.8 yards per catch.
Sophomore Thomas Williams leads the Rock-a-Chaws with 192 yards and one of the three reception touchdowns this season. Following him is senior Harrison Brewer, who has caught 10 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.
St. Stanislaus’ big play threat might be concerning for the Blue Devils, but PRC also has a big play threat of its own in Reece.
Reece has four receptions for 105 yards this season and took three of those four catches to the end zone.
As the first-year quarterback gains experience, Reece should become more and more involved and emerge as a player every opposing coach should prepare for.
The Blue Devils (0-3) will travel to St. Stanislaus (1-2) Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.