BRADFORD – The Covington Buccaneers closed out their final scrimmage with a victory on the scoreboard over Bradford, but the intensity and maximum effort wasn’t at the standard the team had established throughout the summer and in previous scrimmages against Fort Loramie, Tri-Village and Waynesfield Goshen.
Yes, Covington outscored the Railroaders 69-8 through three quarters until both junior varsity teams closed out the scrimmage with ten offensive plays. But, the score wasn’t the primary focus of the coaching staff. The focus was on what type of maximum effort each player gave throughout every single play and the coaches expressed their disappointment to the entire team after the scrimmage ended.
Obviously, many of the fans who watched the scrimmage and witnessed the final score might believe the Buccaneers played well. But, the proof of the lack of intensity and maximum effort is on display in the film that was recorded – film the players will witness tomorrow morning.
Here is the overall report of the big plays throughout the scrimmage, but these do not reflect the lack of intensity the Buccaneers gave.
Things started with Day’Lynn Garrett intercepting a pass on Bradford’s first possession and then he scored on the second offensive play with a 25-yard reception from Landin Cassel.
Day’Lynn then recorded a pick six on Bradford’s next possession and the Buccs followed up by holding Bradford at its own five on an attempted punt. Landin Cassel scored on the next play on a 5-yard run.
Covington’s lack of intensity showed drastically on the ensuing kickoff as Bradford showed grit by responding with a kickoff return for a touchdown and made a two-point conversion.
After being refocused by the coaching staff, the Buccs responded with a 71-yard touchdown reception by Day’Lynn Garrett on the first offensive play in the next possession. Day’Lynn followed up with another touchdown catch from 13-yards out to push Covington’s lead to 34-8 at end of the first quarter.
The most impressive effort by the varsity Buccaneers came on the first possession of second period as they ate up the clock for 4:40 that was capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by Jordan Miller.
The Buccs then forced Bradford to punt on the next possession and Jordan Miller returned the punt for a touchdown.
Day’Lynn then picked off his third interception of the day and returned it to the six. Two plays later Jordan Miller scored a 6-yard run.
After the Buccaneers held Bradford on a fourth-and-one play, Landin Cassel scored on a 30-yard run to close out the score at the half, 62-8.
The Buccaneers played all junior varsity players in the rest of the scrimmage and things started with a 60-yard touchdown run by Rider Robbins that was negated by a clipping potently. Another penalty ended the drive and the Buccs had to punt for the first time.
Fortunately, Rider Robbins followed up in the next possession with a 65-yard touchdown run where he broke several tackles.
The score ended with Covington holding a 69-8 lead at end of third and then both junior varsity teams received 10 offensive plays in the final period. The biggest play for Covington came on a 25-yard touchdown run by Tyler Palsgrove.
Regardless of the final score, it is apparent that the Buccaneers need to increase their intensity and maximum effort next week against Arcanum.
