New offense has Buckaroos senior receivers excited

The Breckenridge High School football team returned to the practice field for the first time this season, spending much of the time working on its new spread offense.

The Buckaroos spent much of the second round of their first two-a-day practice working on their spread offense, which has senior receivers Lonnie Hinson and Terrance Roberson excited to run it during their  Aug. 18 scrimmage against Jacksboro.

“The first day went really well,” Hinson said. “I’m ready to see what we do with it. The momentum, it’s fast paced - bang bang bang. The offense we did run, we tried to run the clock down and it was a low scoring game. I like this.”

As a senior receiver, Roberson said he enjoys an offense that allows him and his fellow speedsters to open up the field. While ball-control offenses, such as the flex-bone based offense the Buckaroos implemented in the past, can keep momentum in a team’s favor,  the new spread offense has more flexibility in play calling and allows Breckenridge to immediately respond and if an opponent makes a quick score.

“If our linemen are great and do what they are supposed to do, then everything should go well,” Roberson said. “This offense is different. It adapts to anything the other teams throw at us. We can throw the ball. We can run, option — all of that.”

Roberson acknowledged that the additional carries also  mean additional responsibilities and pressures, but he believes he is ready for that challenge.

“It puts on a lot of pressure because I am probably going to get the ball a lot,” Roberson said. “Honestly, it’s not about me, it’s about the team ... I just want everyone to give it their all. That is what you’re supposed to do and you have little boys and girls looking up to you. It really doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s the heart that you have, win or lose.”

Another group of Buckaroos having to learn a new set of skills is the offensive lineman, who went through their first round of team drills mostly focusing on pass blocking.

“It takes a lot of practice to pass block,” Breckenridge junior guard Marvin Phillips said. “The passes that we’re throwing are quick passes so we have to be on our game and get set up for the next play.”

Despite having to learn a new skill, Phillips said he loves the opportunity to be a part of a quick-strike offensive attack.

“I really like it. I like being able to get quick strikes on people. It’s fun to get to put people on their backs.”

The Buckaroos will test out their new offense for the first time when they host Jacksboro for a scrimmage at 7 p.m. Friday, August 18. They will travel to Early for a 6:30 p.m. scrimmage the following Thursday, then host Cisco Sept. 1 for the season opener.