SPORTS

Generals bringing in completely different offense

Cameron Teague Robinson
Reporter

WEST LAFAYETTE – Last year, the Ridgewood High School football team used its high-powered offense to outscore most of the teams it faced.

The team had experience at every important offensive position, which allowed it to have more versatility on that side of the ball.

This year is different. The experience lies on the defensive side of the ball; the offense is replacing its quarterback, running back, a few from the offensive line and some receivers. This is a totally different Generals offense.

"If people are expecting to see what we did last year, you aren't going to see it with these guys," head coach John Slusser said. "But we do think we can be pretty good once we figure out how to do it."

This year's offense will be led by junior Jhett Slusser, at quarterback, who said he feels no pressure to live up to what Caleb Tingle brought to the position a year ago.

"Caleb was good. I just try to do what the coaches are telling me," Jhett Slusser said.

And the coaching staff isn't asking him to do too much right now. The focus is on getting the offensive guys as many reps as possible — not because they don't have the talent, but because they don't have the experience.

The talent and athleticism is there for the Generals in players such as Billy Bailey and Trent Harrison, who will both likely see time at running back.

"Billy and Trent are going to be good as a replacement for Donley," Jhett Slusser said. "They are good football players."

"Last year, a lot was run through Caleb and Zach (Donley). What was left went to Johnny Barker and Dillan Shepler," John Slusser said. "We are asking guys to step in and take on bigger roles than they have in the past and you never know how people are going to handle that at first."

Despite replacing those key guys, Jhett Slusser said he thinks the team can be just as good this year.

"I think we can do pretty well this year," he said. "I think we can be just as good."

"(The offense) is going to have to work for everything they get," John said. "We do think we can be pretty good. We have the pieces, but it's just a matter of putting them together."

The offense's first test will come in a scrimmage against Newark Catholic on Aug. 11 at Ridgewood General Stadium.

"I'm not sure if we will get a yard against them. That will be a really tough test for us out of the shoot" John Slusser said.

For the Generals, that game is a tune-up for the season, which will start Aug 29. Then it's win at all costs.

"I'm not like a lot of people," John Slusser said. "I don't want to be better come tournament time or come big games. I really want to win Game 1. I will worry about Game 10 when it gets here. Right now, I want to be the best we can be when we start keeping score."

Before they start keeping score, there are questions that need to be answered on the offensive side of the ball, but Jhett Slusser said he thinks that if they continue to work hard, the offense will be fine.

"We work really hard and we want to be here, so I think (the season) will go good for us, as long as we keep working hard," he said.

cteaguerob@gannett.com

740-295-3442

Twitter: @cj_teague