With two games in the books, Alcovy is still searching for its first win of the 2011 season. If the Tigers are going to break through tonight, they'll have to knock off one of the state's best in Class AAAA, when they take on Starr's Mill at 7:30 at Sharp Stadium.
The Tigers are coming off a tough 35-20 loss to Harris County in which they were tied 20 apiece late in the third quarter only to watch two turnovers materialize into 15 points. After facing Eastside in week one and Harris County, Alcovy has already seen two of the premiere defenses around. The task doesn't get much easier with Starr's Mill.
One of the bright spots so far has been Devon Edwards, particularly in the return game. Edwards has a kickoff return for a touchdown in both games thus far and gives the Tigers an added dimension they haven't enjoyed in recent years. Edwards is also Alcovy's leading rusher. He has 107 yards in two games with a pair of touchdowns.
The other good news is that the offense was better a week ago with Cornell White under center. White, who spent the offseason working on his passing skills, is also a weapon in the running game. He had 79 yards on 23 carries last week and was 7-for-15 for 93 yards passing. With Edwards and Tre Sorrells, Alcovy has a stable of fast rushers out of the backfield.
Coming into the season, head coach Kirk Hoffman talked about the importance of ball control. That was never more evident than the damage the two late turnovers caused last week. That will again be especially important against Starr's Mill, which has a potent running game itself.
Alcovy wants to get that first win as soon as possible to avoid falling into desperation mode. It won't be easy tonight but with White running the offense, the Tigers are much more potent. Playing at home will help. Alcovy must take care of the ball and cause some turnovers and then just hang around until the end. That was essentially what they did last week until late in the game. Getting that first win will eliminate that burden. Tonight's game doesn't have region playoff implications but the Tigers know getting that first win earlier rather than later will be the key to whether they make a run at a playoff spot.
