Keith MacPherson, Sports Editor
Gainesville Daily Register
GAINESVILLE — The Leopards are going back to the basics.
With an 8-0 record and on its bye week, Gainesville is putting an emphasis on the fundamentals of the game before its big showdown with Krum on Nov. 2.
“We want to get healthy and really focus on the fundamentals,”
Gainesville coach Keith Hall said. “We want to make sure we are doing the little things the right way. Tackling, pursuit, technique - those little things can be a difference in a ball game.”
The Leopards have had little competition in its first two District 9-3A games with blowout wins over Decatur and Sanger.
Gainesville will now turn its attention to Krum, which remains undefeated in its first season at the Class 3A level. The Bobcats host Sanger on Friday.
“We are taking things one game at a time,” Hall said. “That’s the way we’ve done it all season. We don’t want to worry about what another team’s record is or what they’ve done. We have to focus on ourselves and continue to get better each week.”
The late season bye comes at a good time for the Leopards. With defensive standouts Jesse Wolf and Demarius Farr out the previous two games, the week off offers a good chance for the team to get a little more healthy.
Despite the injuries though, the Leopards have seen a number of players step up with the start of district play. Running back Adam Berryman rushed for six touchdowns and nearly 300 yards last week and wide receiver David Moore has 128 yards receiving in two league games.
“We are still getting better in a lot of aspects,” Hall said. “There’s still room for improvement.”
That improvement continues this week with the Leopards going back to the basics.
“We are going to block and we are going to tackle,” Hall said. “It’s going to be similar to two-a-days. We have to be sound in the fundamentals.”
