At least that is what AHS coach Lyn Hepner is hoping heading into the first district game of the season. The Bulldogs will host the Chickasha Fightin' Chicks on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs are fresh off an upset victory over the Lawton High Wolverines, a game in which their offense clicked for the first time this season.
Altus rolled up 327 yards in total offense and they achieved that balance that Hepner had hoped for. Altus ran the ball 28 times and had 27 passes.
“That's balance and that's what we want,” Hepner said. “The players are executing and Blake (quarterback Blake Stepanovich) is reading it (he defenses). I think this is going to be really fun. We definitely have stuff to work on, but you can see how it is coming together.”
Both Altus and Chickasha enter the game with 1-2 records. Altus lost their season opener to Vernon,Texas, 48-13, then dropped a 28-0 decision to Lawton Eisenhower before defeating Lawton High 21-20 last week.
Chickasha also lost their first two games. They dropped their opener to Broken Bow 49-28 and lost to El Reno 21-8 before routed Anadarko 22-7.
Chickasha will line up in a variety of formations including the spread, shotgun, split back, I and full house.
The key to their offense is their quarterback Wyatt Kinnamon (6-5, 210, Jr.) who runs and throws well.
“They have a good scheme and they are well coached,” Hepner said.
One of the most unusual parts of the Chicks offense is the number of times they will use a quarterback sneak. Chickasha is not afraid to use the play from third and three on down and they have been very successful.
“He's a big, strong kid and they have a pretty good offensive line,” Hepner said.
The Altus coaching staff got a good look at what Chickasha might do defensively by watching the film of the Chicks game with El Reno, who runs a similar game to that of the Bulldogs.
“That gave us a look at what they might do,” Hepner said. “They blitzed a lot against El Reno. We have to be ready for the blitzes if history is a predictor of the future. They did that to El Reno.”
What are the keys' to defeating Chickasha?
“We'll be fine if we go out there, execute and take care of business,” Hepner said. “We need to stay consistent, keep moving the football. It looks like they want to smash with you and be physical, but we will also have to defend their passes. They can go vertical because they scored against Anadarko that way. The key to stopping them is their quarterback. How he goes so goes the Chicks.”
Bulldog notes: This will be one of four big district games for the Bulldogs. Most feel that the three Oklahoma City schools will be a challenge for one of the four playoff spots. Altus, Chickasha, Lawton MacArthur, Duncan and Ardmore are the contenders for the playoff slots.
Altus did not appear in the preseason rankings. In fact Chickasha, MacArthur, Duncan and Ardmore were rated higher. That forecast if it comes true would mean the Bulldogs would miss the playoffs.
“We ought to have little chip on our shoulders and remember that,” Hepner said.
Hepner and his staff are stressing the importance of the remainder of the games since the Bulldogs are entering district play.
“We remind them they start counting now. We can't stub our toe. Practice needs to be business like approach it with good focus. Every year our goal is to win the state championship. But an intermediate goal would be to win a district championship.”
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