CLINTON —
Clinton is hoping to end a three-game losing skid on Thursday night against Davenport Assumption at Brady Street Stadium in Davenport.
It won’t be easy for the River Kings (1-3), though.
“Overall, we’ve got to keep doing the little things right,” Clinton coach Lee Camp said. “We have to be disciplined and be ready to play. We’re on a shorter week, so we have be mentally and physically ready to play.”
Camp said one of the biggest detriments of the short week was losing a day for players to heal. As of Tuesday, quarterback Will Carr and linebacker Jordan Chapman were both questionable. Camp said he thought they would be ready for the game, but he wasn’t sure. There is some good news on the injury front.
“Raf Ramirez is back,” Camp said of the offensive lineman. “But, it will probably be another week before he’s at full speed.”
Assumption (3-1) possesses quite a weapon in junior quarterback Jake Gervase. He’s gained 552 yards rushing on 70 carries for 7.9 yards a carry and has thrown for 498 yards. Gervase has thrown and run for six touchdowns each.
“Specifically with Assumption, we have to come out and stop the run,” Camp said. “Their quarterback is going to run the ball a lot. He’s a real tough runner. They’ve got other runners — backs and stuff — but he does a nice job. We’ve got to shut that down. They’ll get into the passing game, and he still does a nice job with that, but we want to stop the run.”
The River Kings have to be prepared for a very aggressive Assumption defense, as well.
“What they’ve shown is they blitz about 60 percent of the time,” Camp said. “We have to step up and pick up blitzes, whether we’re running or throwing, and take advantage of what they’re giving us.
“Really the pressure is on the lineman to pick them up. The read is going to be the same — that’s the guy we leave unblocked at the end. It’s going to be pressure on the quarterback, if it’s a passing situation, to find the hot receiver. Where is the blitz coming from? One of the guys is going to be open and peel underneath. We’ve got to be able to find him with a short pass.”
After a disappointing Week 3 loss to Davenport Central, Clinton bounced back with some good play against Muscatine. But the River Kings were outscored 13-0 over the last six minutes and gave up the final 23 points in a 37-21 loss.
“We’re still disappointed with the way it turned out,” Camp said. “We feel we made a lot of improvements. I think we were just flat going into Central. They cured that. We came out and we played hard. Muscatine, I think, is going to be one of the better teams in the MAC. ... Our kids stepped up to challenge. If we could get a couple of third-and-long stops, we’re right in the game.”
Camp said the main difference against Muscatine was the River Kings were more aggressive. He said that would be one of the couple main keys against the Knights in Week 5.
“One is come out and be aggressive,” he said. “When we do that, we really play well. Two is control the ball. We do positive things offensively. The one game where we turned it over, we were really flat. The main thing is to come out prepared, be aggressive and put ourselves in a position to win the game and make plays.”
High School Sports
September 19, 2012
Kings hit the road in search of a win
- High School Sports
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High hopes as season starts
In Kevin Cunningham’s first season as Clinton High baseball coach, the River Kings surprised opponents and put together a 20-14 season.
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Indians earn 2nd in hurdles
Thomas Brantley, Devin Norman, Shykeem Williams and Mike Osaro were all smiles after seeing that their time in the finals of the Class 2A shuttle hurdle relay was their best ever.
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Panthers take 2nd at state
A successful track season was capped by a second place performance for Erie/Prophetstown on Saturday at the Illinois Class1A girls track and field state meet.
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Indians' Harksen takes 2nd in 400
DES MOINES -- There's a delicate balance for runners who qualify for the track and field state meet in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. Because there is little more than a half-hour between the races on the opening day of the three-day event, a runner
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It's close-but-not-quite for Sabers
DES MOINES -- After running the anchor leg and nearly catching Kate Sandage of Greene County in her heat of the shuttle hurdle relay, Central DeWitt's Sam Barr knew it would be a matter of a fraction of a second as to whether the Sabers would earn a
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Panthers get by Rams
MORRISON, Ill. -- The Riverdale Rams were coming off of an extra innings win over the West Carroll Thunder, 9-8, to get into Wednesday's contest with Erie/Prophetstown. The Rams were unable to continue the momentum. The Panthers came out ready to hit
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Mustangs score four late to oust Fulton
In the night cap at the field in Morrison the Mustangs hosted the Fulton Steamers, who waste no time getting on the board.
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Better late for Banker
CLINTON - Jason Banker discovered his talent with the 400-meter low hurdles late in his high school career at Clinton. Last winter, on the eve of his senior season, River Kings track coach Tony Smith approached Banker about trying the event. Until th
- Secret to Success ERIE, Ill. -- Erie/Prophetstown girls track and field coach Don Robinson made a mistake earlier in the season, running sisters Courtney and Rachel Cobert in the same races. The Coberts competed against each other in both the 200- and 400-meter races.
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Day's wait pays off for Clinton track teams
Clinton High's boys and girls both had successful nights Friday at their state-qualifying track and field meets in Dubuque.
- More High School Sports Headlines
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High hopes as season starts
