Panthers seek rare win over Mavs

By JONATHAN GREENE

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

GARDNER — Two teams looking to get their seasons on track will meet at PikeView tonight.

The James Monroe Mavericks (1-2) visit the PikeView Panthers (1-2) as both teams look to get to .500.

The Panthers defeated Liberty (Raleigh) last Friday 15-6 for their first win while the Mavericks fell to Glenvar 35-13 for their second straight defeat.

“It was important for the kids more so than the coaches,” PikeView head coach Jeff Damewood said of the win. “The kids just needed to get their confidence level up. It’s always nice to get that first win.

“It’s easier to get back to work and prepare for other opponents after you get the win. Hopefully, they’re excited and hungry for James Monroe.”

After winning their first game against Narrows, James Monroe lost to Summers County (8-0) and Glenvar. The deciding factor in both of those games have been mistakes by the Mavericks.

“We played a really good team last week,” James Monroe head coach Donnie Jackson said. “We were out manned. We didn’t have intensity and concentration and we made a bunch of mistakes.

“We’re a really inexperienced team. Mistakes are killing us and we have to correct those. On both offense and defense.”

A problem facing both teams is getting their offenses moving forward and putting points on the board.

PikeView got closer to their goal last week by moving playmaker David Keen between quarterback and running back, but they still struggled in the end zone.

“It’s just not smooth,” Damewood said. “We’re missing plays by inches. We’re throwing the ball some and it’s just one or two steps off. It’s kind of a timing issue.

“I think things happen like that where we’re switching quarterbacks out and moving from under center to shotgun. I think some is self-inflicted. Mainly, it’s just getting games under our belts and get the timing down.”

James Monroe is facing the same problems as they are very inexperience on offense outside of running backs Matt Romanello and Trevor Fullen.

“Not at all. We got two running backs back and everyone else is basically a newcomer,” Jackson said. “Our blocking is not intense. Our passing game is not where we wan it to be.

“We’ve got to improve on everything. Hopefully, we’ll get better but right now, we’re struggling.”

Much like Keen for PikeView, Romanello has been asked to do it all for the Mavericks. The talented running back has not only carried the load on the ground, but has been asked to throw the ball as well.

“On defense, we have to have everyone pursuing to the ball,” Damewood said. “That’s something we’ve worked over the past few weeks — getting more physical and guys flying to the ball. I think to stop (Romanello), that’s what we need. Everyone needs to do their job and get 11 hats to the football.”

The same can be said for James Monroe and slowing down Keen.

“Keen is a really good back,” Jackson said. “He does a lot of things for them. They’ve moved him from that first game to quarterback in the shotgun.

“He runs the option well, the sweep well and is the key to this game. We have to control him.”

While the Mavericks defense gave up a good chunk of yardage to Glenvar, most of it was through the air. Their run defense has been pretty stout all year which should come in handy against PikeView’s option attack.

“We played pretty good against the run,” Jackson said. “Last week, we had trouble stopping the pass. We worked on the secondary all week.

“Hopefully, we can keep them in front of those guys. We have to keep from giving up the big play.”

PikeView and James Monroe meet tonight in the Panthers’ home opener.

“It’s going to be great,” Damewood said of playing at home. “Three road games in a row gets old. We’re happy to be at home no matter who we were playing.

“James Monroe makes it a little more special. We’re so close and our kids know their kids. They’ve played through pee-wees and midgets. That’s an opportunity we’re looking forward to.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

— Contact Jonathan Greene

at jgreene@bdtonline.com