[TERRY, MS] The Terry High School Bulldogs have had a solid start, having already matched last season’s win total. Yet there are still major questions about this Bulldogs team, particularly on the offensive end.
Last week, the Bulldogs fell to the previously 0-5 Clinton Arrows on the road, 28-21. This loss was described by head coach Kris Thigpen as one “that really hurts”. The Bulldogs scored first and looked at times as if they were in control of the ball game. However, it was the sputtering Terry offense that repeatedly could not put the ball in the end zone.
This has been a repeating theme for Terry this season. Going into the Clinton game, the Bulldogs were coming off of a hard fought 6-0 win over the Provine Rams. In that game, the Bulldogs scored on their first drive and failed to reach the end zone again thereafter. In the Moor Event Space Pregame Show, Thigpen noted “We have been working on our redzone offense because we haven’t had a problem driving from 20 to 20. We just have had a problem finishing and we need to finish.”
The redzone scoring did not fare much better in the Clinton game as Terry missed on multiple opportunities. Thigpen took blame for the loss. “It’s on me as the coach. I haven’t put these guys in the places to succeed offensively. You have to score the ball to win ball games. Especially games like this….This one…this one really hurts.”
However, the Bulldogs offense has been dealt a tough hand. They have yet to have a game where their offense has stayed healthy throughout a game. Ty’Dus Kelly started the first game against Raymond, but then was out for four weeks before the game against Clinton. Ronde Baker and Jordan Magee have been banged up as well. This has messed with the Bulldogs rhythm. Coach Thigpen will not take those as excuses, but that is the reality of the situation. Obviously there are things that need to be tightened up, and the Bulldogs look to get everything together when it counts: in region play. Next week the Bulldogs start region play as they take on the undefeated West Jones Mustangs.
West Jones (6-0) has yet to lose a game and has performed in dominant fashion at home. They will be a tough look for Terry to begin region play. The Thursday night showdown will kickoff on October 5th at 7PM.
