By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
Earlier in the season, when it came time to install some new things into the offensive and defensive game plans, Northwood coach Austin Brown would typically add one or two items.
As the 2024 regular season begins to wind to close, it’s gone up to more like five or six.
That’s the difference in the Falcons from the beginning of the season to now and a big reason why they sit with a 7-1 overall record and 4-1 in District 1-4A play heading into Friday’s game at Minden.
“Even on the everyday drills we do, the kids have really honed in on what’s expected of them and doing those things to a higher level,” Brown said. “They are really intelligent, athletic and have been fun to be around.”
This may not be the most talented team he’s ever coached, but Brown does say it is the most coachable.
“These kids take coaching very well,” Brown said. “They do what is needed from them. When we watch film, we are trying to nitpick on their techniques and execution on what they are supposed to do and they are doing it about as well as any team I’ve seen in my eight years at Northwood.”
After an opening district loss to North DeSoto, the Falcons have responded with four straight wins in which they have scored at least 40 points in every game.
The biggest area of improvement, according to Brown, has been in the defensive scheme and how aggressively the Northwood defense has been, particularly in defending the pass.
Offensively, the Falcons are still a run-first team but quarterback Jaxon Bentzler is putting up some amazing stats. He’s thrown for 1,152 yards and 17 touchdowns and has no interceptions. As in zero. With a Z.
“That’s unheard of,” Brown said.
Last week against Southwood, he was 14 of 16 for 287 yards and four touchdowns. He only has four incompletions in the last two weeks.
The Falcons bring waves of running backs at a defense, led by junior Kyran Johnson who has had five 100-yard games and leads the team with 909 yards.
Senior Tomarcus Keith (494 yards, six touchdowns) and junior John Sneed (215 yards, seven touchdowns) also add to the attack.
Four players have caught at least 10 passes this year with junior Jayden White leading the way with 20 receptions.
The Falcons have lost only two fumbles all year.
“For us to be able to hold on to the ball and be very proficient in the pass game has probably been the biggest change since the start of the year,” Brown said.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com