Dominant rushing attack leading surging Austin offense
· Yahoo Sports
Oct. 8—Three weeks ago, the Austin Black Bears were at a crossroads.
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Coming into the year, there were high expectations surrounding the Black Bears, who were dropping to the second largest classification for the first time since 2017. The season didn't start as expected.
The Black Bears started 1-3, and the offense was averaging just 18 points per game. In the last game of that stretch, they mustered just seven points in a 26-7 loss.
Since Jeremy Perkins took over as head coach at Austin in 2010, the program has had seven seasons of eight or more wins. Each of those seasons was highlighted by a dynamic offense, with the Black Bears averaging at least 28 points per game in each season and more than 34 points per game in five.
To get back on track, they needed to jolt the offense, and to do that they did what Austin does best: run the ball.
The week following the loss to Muscle Shoals, Austin defeated Athens 46-39 by rushing 50 times for 435 yards and six touchdowns. Last week, following a bye, the Black Bears added a 54-12 win over East Limestone. Now they sit at 3-3, but more importantly, they are 3-1 in region play while averaging 50 points per game in the last two games.
"We certainly feel a lot better than we did a few weeks ago," said senior running back Aidan Davis. "Going into the Athens game, we knew it was going to be a deciding factor on what our future looked like. Me and Christian (Gibbs, Austin's other running back) just looked at each other, and we knew we had to have a big game."
Davis and Gibbs did indeed have a big game. Davis rushed 32 times for 264 yards and four touchdowns, while Gibbs had 12 rushes for 126 yards and a score. For the season, Davis has rushed for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns with Gibbs adding 300 yards and a score. Each is averaging over six yards per carry, giving Austin yet another explosive and dynamic backfield.
"I love being in the backfield together," Gibbs said. "(Davis) will run over you, and I like to juke, so it makes for a pretty dangerous combination."
It didn't take long for the duo's rushing success to spread to the rest of the offense. Last week, following their dominating performance against Athens, East Limestone stacked the box in an attempt to slow the attack down. Austin made the Indians pay for that strategy: Quarterback Donovan Jarman had his best game of the season, throwing for 349 yards and four touchdowns.
"When we're successful, that just opens up space for (Jarman) to get the ball to where it needs to be," Gibbs said.
"A lot of teams prepare for the running backs, but they don't prepare for our receivers," Davis said. "We have some great receivers, and if you get them the ball in space, they're almost impossible to bring down."
Both running backs and coaches were quick to point out how crucial the offensive line has been to the recent uptick in yards and points. This year Austin returned senior tackles Jacobi Phillips and Paxton Jones, both three-year starters, senior guard Cameron Johnson, who is a two-year starter, and sophomore guard Ethan Williams, who started a few games as a freshman last year. Add senior Josiah Church, who took over at center, sophomore Arturo Brito, who plays the sixth offensive lineman, and the combination of size and experience has begun to force its will on opponents.
"Those guys have played a lot of football, and when you have a veteran group like that, it allows you to make adjustments quicker and more accurately. That's important when you play the type of defenses we play that do a lot of different stuff," Perkins said. "The biggest thing about that group though is the calming presence they bring to the offense. They believe we can run the ball and they take a lot of pride in that."
As disappointing as the start of the season may have been, six games in, Austin is exactly in the spot it thought it would be. The Black Bears are tied for second place in Class 5A, Region 7 with an upcoming region stretch of Hartselle, Florence and Russellville. Win those games, and they will be region champions.
Perkins said he likes where his team is going into this crucial part of the season.
"Early in the season, we weren't executing well and we weren't protecting the ball. We're doing better at those things, and it feels like we're peaking at the right time," Perkins said. "We have a tough challenge ahead, and we'll have to take it one game at a time, but the good thing is when you have something to play for, whether it be a playoff berth or a region championship, it gives you a shot in the arm."
— [email protected] or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2