SHAKING OFF SLOW START

Coming off dual scrimmage against Rio Vista and Waco Live Oak, Class 2A, DII Meridian Yellowjackets hit the road again for final tune-up against Cross Plains

Undoubtably, things continue to heat up for the Meridian Yellowjackets as the 2024 Texas high school season approaches – in more ways than one. But with another week of scorching temperatures and a second straight strong scrimmage opponent in store, it’s just what the Jackets need to get ready for the season opener just nine days away.

Coming off a strong finish to their first scrimmage on the road against the Rio Vista Eagles and the Waco Live Oak Falcons, the Jackets will once again be road warriors as they travel to Cross Plains to take on the District 7-2A, Division II playoff-contending Buffaloes at 5 p.m. Thursday in their finale tune-up.

“It will be hot out Thursday afternoon in Cross Plains,” Meridian football head coach Jim Kerbow said. “But it will be hot on Aug. 30 when we kick off against Bruceville-Eddy. So, we will need to take this opportunity to work on our mental toughness and to be sure we hydrate all week to combat that heat.”

After making the playoffs in 2023, the Buffaloes have seven offensive and nine defensive starters, led by four-year starting quarterback Kade Purvis, returning to compete in District 7-2A, DII.

“We will focus on fixing our mistakes from last Friday and look to improve and compete at a high level on Thursday against Cross Plains,” Kerbow said. “It will be another good measure of where we are at as a football team.”

Certainly, Rio Vista provided a challenging first test for the Jackets as a playoff contender in District 7-2A, DI behind 14th-ranked Axtell and 25th-ranked Italy as well as Dawson and Valley Mills. And Live Oak enters the season coming off a district title in TAPPS Division IV, District 1. And after getting more than a week of work in, the Jackets were ready to line up against an opponent.

“Our first week of practice was great,” Kerbow said. “We as a staff felt like we picked up where we left off week 11 last year. So that was a very encouraging start.”

After turning the ball over on their first play of the scrimmage and getting off to a sluggish start against Rio Vista in the first controlled series, the Jackets began to turn it on against Live Oak.

“We were looking forward to getting to see how we measure up to an opponent,” Kerbow said. “Everyone looks good against their scout teams, so it was exciting to see how we execute against Rio Vista and Live Oak. We started a little slow, but we picked it up in the second series. We saw some good things, and a lot of things that need to be corrected.

“Offensively, we ran the ball efficiently, threw and caught the ball well. Defensively, we looked good at times. We have a few kids playing different positions, so there is a learning curve. Clearly, we have some work to do.”

Using the first scrimmage as a measuring stick and a reference point for improvement, the Jacket coaching staff will focus on getting better against a strong opponent in Cross Plains this week.

“I thought we caught the ball well, and the offensive line did a good job,” Kerbow said. “Our secondary needs a lot of work. Hopefully, we can get those kinks worked out this week.”

Photos by WENDY OROZCO