Pirates to face Carthage Bulldogs in scrimmage
A record of four state championships in the past eight years might intimidate some football teams, but the Pittsburg Pirates are ready to take on the Carthage Bulldogs in the team’s first scrimmage game Friday, Aug. 14.
The game starts at 7 p.m. at Carthage’s Bulldog Stadium, 1600 W. Panola St. in Carthage. Pittsburg athletic director Brad Baca said his team is ready to show the Bulldogs what they’ve got.
“They’re as respected and as good a team in East Texas as there is,” Mr. Baca said of the Bulldogs.
The Carthage football team, which won state football championships in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013, is led by head coach Scott Surratt.
“The success they’ve had is a reflection of the type of coach he is,” Mr. Baca said. “I have the utmost respect for him and what he does with those guys. It’s very impressive.”
Friday’s game will be the first time the team will perform under Friday night lights for Coach Baca who started his career in Pittsburg in January.
“It’ll be surreal to see our plays in action. The kids have progressed every day,” he said. “We’ve made a good head start.”
Coach Baca said scrimmages are a great time for the team to find out both their strengths on the field and their weaknesses.
“You want to find out what you have and how the guys are going to respond to somebody other than themselves,” he said. “It’ll give us a true reflection of where we’re at and what we need to do to get where we want to go. We expect it to be a fight but the boys are up for the challenge.”
There are several key impact players this season including several seniors who will be graduating in the spring.
“We’ve got a couple of running backs that are seniors – Tray Walker and Huge Fluellen. On the offensive side, we’ve got some big bodies like Ryan Fueston and Nathaniel Capers,” he said. “We have Dejour Dowell as an outside receiver and also D.J. Porter. Billy Kimble is going to play inside receiver. My brother, Brian Baca, is going to play quarterback.”
On the defensive side of things, Mr. Baca said he’s got a line that looks as good as any in the state.
Quinton Edney, E.J. Hill, Bradlee Warrick, O’Ryan Fisher, Bobby Stroud, Frezarian Harrison, Jakeivian Hughes, Red Shields and Shon Smith – are also names to watch this season, according to Mr. Baca.
By Tori Lyle, news@campcountynow.com -- To continue reading this article, purchase the print edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at:http://www.etypeservices.com/
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