LEBANON Westmoreland High senior Lucas James admitted that his team lacked aggressiveness during a visit to Lebanon for 7-on-7 workouts last month.
Westmoreland High senior Corey Gardner cuts upfield during Thursday’s scrimmage.
The Eagles returned to Lebanon on Thursday evening with a different gear in keeping the host Blue Devils out of the end zone, winning by a 6-3 margin in a scrimmage cut short by lightning after approximately 75 minutes.
“Earlier, we weren’t really sure what we were going to be,” James said. “We came over here in passing league and they pushed us around. We came back over here this time in pads and showed how it’s done.”
Lebanon’s offense did not get past its own 30-yard line until the fifth series, when the Blue Devils managed a 35-yard field goal for their only points.
“We were pleased defensively,” Westmoreland head coach Steve Harris said. “We really didn’t know how aggressive we were going to be. To this point, we haven’t been real aggressive, to be honest about it. That’s a big surprise, and we hope to build on that.”
But the Eagles’ aggressive efforts also resulted in several penalties.
“It just boils down to discipline,” Harris said. “We’re going to have to be more disciplined. If we want to win football games, we’re going to have to be a disciplined football team.”
Westmoreland’s lone touchdown came on fourth-and-goal, when junior running back Ryin Raney broke through from three yards out. It came after two previous drives ended on downs inside the Blue Devils’ 20-yard line. Raney had recovered a fumble three plays earlier and returned it inside Lebanon’s 10-yard line.
Westmoreland High senior quarterback Blake Carter throws a pass while under pressure from a Lebanon defender during Thursday’s scrimmage.
The Eagles converted only once on four possessions inside the red zone.
“We’re not a real big team,” Harris said. “Once you get inside the 10, the field gets more condensed and sometimes we have trouble moving people.”
James added, “We’ve got to be able to focus more. It’s just a whole team effort.”
With the Eagles’ opener at Trousdale County two weeks away, a physical scrimmage appeared to be a good test for Westmoreland, especially against a school four classes higher in Division I.
“We know we’re disadvantaged with size,” James said. “But we know we have to step up our game and hit somebody in the mouth.”
Westmoreland hosts Portland in a jamboree next Friday evening.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.
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