The dilemma is this.
How can the Billies get the offense going without top running back Timmy Browning?
Browning, Man’s top offensive performer, left last week’s game at Mount View with a severe concussion, and is doubtful for Friday’s road game at Westside.
Man (0-2) and the host Renegades (1-1) are scheduled to kick off at Clear Fork’s Westside High School at 7:30 p.m.
Man coach Harvey Arms said Browning might not be able to go on Friday.
“He’s OK but I don’t know what his playing status will be this week,” Arms said. “I’m almost pretty sure that he will be out this week. I think it was (a concussion). I think that he’s going to see a doctor this week. He was playing well. Hopefully, he won’t be out too long but it will be dependent on what the doctors tell him.”
The Billies are coming off a 22-8 loss at Double-A Mount View last week n a game in which Man only was able to muster 110 yards of total offense.
After scoring a two-point safety against the Golden Knights in the first half Man reached the end zone late with Chris Toler’s 5-yard TD run.
While Man’s defense has performed well in its two games so far in the 2007 season the offense has been stuck in low gear. In Man’s season-opening 33-14 loss to 2A and arch-rival Logan on Aug. 24, the Billies managed just 117 yards of total offense.
All of the concerns go into play this week as Man takes on an improved Westside team.
“Even with him (Browning) we haven’t been able to move the ball that well,” Arms said. “Friday night we had several drives going and all of a sudden something would happen that would stop us whether it be a fumble or a penalty. In high school football it is awfully hard to take the ball on your 20-yard line and drive it all the way down the field four yards at a time because it seems like you always make mistakes. So far, that’s what we’ve done. We thought that we moved the ball pretty good between the 20s but we didn’t get it in the end zone enough.”
Man’s defense held high-powered Mount View and running back Cordero High to only 194 total yards last week with 169 yards on the ground and just 25 in the air.
In the Logan game, the Wildcats and the Billies were tied 7-7 at halftime.
Westside, which went just 1-9 last season and lost 28-0 at Man, seem to be improved this year.
The Renegades lost 36-12 at Gilbert last week after topping Liberty-Raleigh in Week One. The Lions had blown Westside off the field last year.
The Renegades were limited to only 97 yards of total offense by Gilbert, including 82 yards on the ground.
Westside quarterback Eric Bailey was just 2-of-12 passing for 15 yards.
Nick Lambert scored on a 2-yard TD run for Westside and ran for 33 total yards on seven tries. Matt Lambert had 31 yards rushing and scored on an 80-yard kickoff return for Westside’s other score.
“They’re a big team,” Arms said of Westside. “They’re 1-1. They try to mix it up offensively. They run the ball and they throw the ball. They look to be a pretty good team. They’re big and strong up front.”
Westside is Class A Man’s third straight Double-A opponent to start the season. The Billies play six Class AA teams this season with Chapmanville, Wyoming East and Iaeger being the others.
“It’s a tough schedule but we’ve got to get tough with it,” Arms said. “We just have to keep working and keep improving. That’s one thing that we’re happy about. Even thought we’ve lost both games, the kids keep improving and keep working hard.”
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