(Staunton News Leader article by Patrick Hite)
BUFFALO GAP - Last year Buffalo Gap advanced to the playoffs for the third season in a row. After losing at Clarke County in the second round of the 2016 playoffs, the Bison ended the season 8-4.
The 2017 season gets underway Friday night when Gap travels to Fort Defiance. Head coach Andy Cline gave us five keys for a successful season.
1. Give effort
"If you have maximum effort out there on the field I think you've always got a chance of doing well," Cline said.
2. Replace key parts on defense
"Defensively we've just got to keep flying to the ball and tackle well," Cline said. "We've had some pretty good years defensively."
Cline noted that losing Chuck Weatherman (Virginia Military Institute) and Jake Shelton (Randolph-Macon College) to graduation will hurt, but he's confident the returning players can get the job done.
"We've go some kids that can play right now," he said. "I feel like they're going to step up."
3. Execute new offensive wrinkles
"Offensively we've tweaked a couple of things here and there," Cline said. "We're still running a lot of our stuff, but it's going to look a little bit different. We're just kind of shoring up loose ends and we've just got to execute the way that we want to."
Buffalo Gap prepared for the 2017 season by scrimmaging Rockbridge County Thursday, Aug. 17. (Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
4. Play physical football
"We still want to play physical," Cline said. "As a football coach, that's what you want to do. If you get the good effort and get them to play physical, then I feel like things are going to go well."
5. Play smart
"This is such an emotional game," Cline said. "In the past we've kind of let our emotions take over a little bit and it's cost us at times. Luckily, it has not cost us a game, knock on wood. But I think we do need to play a little bit smarter than we have."
Buffalo Gap coach Andy Cline stands with some of his players Thursday, Aug. 17, watching a scrimmage against Rockbridge County. (Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
2017 Buffalo Gap schedule
08-25-17 — at Fort Defiance, 7 p.m.
09-01-17 — Parry McCluer, 7 p.m.
09-08-17 — Luray, 7 p.m.
09-15-17 — at Robert E. Lee, 7 p.m.
09-22-17 — Riverheads, 7 p.m.
09-30-17 — vs. Page County, at JMU, 2 p.m.
10-06-17 — Stuarts Draft, 7 p.m.
10-13-17 — at East Rockingham, 7 p.m.
10-20-17 — Bye
10-27-17 — Stonewall Jackson, 7 p.m.
11-03-17 — at Wilson Memorial, 7 p.m.
BUFFALO GAP - Last year Buffalo Gap advanced to the playoffs for the third season in a row. After losing at Clarke County in the second round of the 2016 playoffs, the Bison ended the season 8-4.
The 2017 season gets underway Friday night when Gap travels to Fort Defiance. Head coach Andy Cline gave us five keys for a successful season.
1. Give effort
"If you have maximum effort out there on the field I think you've always got a chance of doing well," Cline said.
2. Replace key parts on defense
"Defensively we've just got to keep flying to the ball and tackle well," Cline said. "We've had some pretty good years defensively."
Cline noted that losing Chuck Weatherman (Virginia Military Institute) and Jake Shelton (Randolph-Macon College) to graduation will hurt, but he's confident the returning players can get the job done.
"We've go some kids that can play right now," he said. "I feel like they're going to step up."
3. Execute new offensive wrinkles
"Offensively we've tweaked a couple of things here and there," Cline said. "We're still running a lot of our stuff, but it's going to look a little bit different. We're just kind of shoring up loose ends and we've just got to execute the way that we want to."
Buffalo Gap prepared for the 2017 season by scrimmaging Rockbridge County Thursday, Aug. 17. (Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
4. Play physical football
"We still want to play physical," Cline said. "As a football coach, that's what you want to do. If you get the good effort and get them to play physical, then I feel like things are going to go well."
5. Play smart
"This is such an emotional game," Cline said. "In the past we've kind of let our emotions take over a little bit and it's cost us at times. Luckily, it has not cost us a game, knock on wood. But I think we do need to play a little bit smarter than we have."
Buffalo Gap coach Andy Cline stands with some of his players Thursday, Aug. 17, watching a scrimmage against Rockbridge County. (Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
2017 Buffalo Gap schedule
08-25-17 — at Fort Defiance, 7 p.m.
09-01-17 — Parry McCluer, 7 p.m.
09-08-17 — Luray, 7 p.m.
09-15-17 — at Robert E. Lee, 7 p.m.
09-22-17 — Riverheads, 7 p.m.
09-30-17 — vs. Page County, at JMU, 2 p.m.
10-06-17 — Stuarts Draft, 7 p.m.
10-13-17 — at East Rockingham, 7 p.m.
10-20-17 — Bye
10-27-17 — Stonewall Jackson, 7 p.m.
11-03-17 — at Wilson Memorial, 7 p.m.
