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Thursday
March 18, 2010 Since 1922 |
Consistency is key for Evans, Cougars
By Nathan Hague
The Baytown Sun Published November 14, 2009 The Crosby Cougars will look to their backfield as they fight to win today’s Class 4A Division I bidistict game against Nederland, a game set for 2 p.m. at Conroe’s Woodforest Stadium.
Cougar running back Jakacy Evans has run for nearly 800 yards and 17 touchdowns and knows the importance of hard work.
Coaches and teammates didn’t know how much he would contribute to the team but in the long run, he surprised them all.
“Jakacy didn’t play his junior year,” head coach Kevin Flanigan said. “At the beginning, we told him he had a lot of obligations to meet and we weren’t sure he was a kid we could count on consistently. But he’s proved to be a major positive part of the team.”
Evans did everything in his power to make the team his senior year and said it has been rewarding to see all his hard work pay off.
“It’s more rewarding that I proved people wrong,” he said. “There were people who said I couldn’t do it but I worked hard and just kept doing what I’m doing.”
In order to prove them wrong, Evans had a lot of requirements to meet. The coaching staff required its players to participate in team activities on a consistent basis.
“We have team workout days where we run 16 100s (100 yard dashes) and if you want to make the team, you have to be there at least 24 days,” Evans said. “I made every day consistently and I showed the coaches I was serious about wanting to play.”
His teammates’ attitudes changed after they saw how determined he was. Evans believes that’s one thing that helped bring his team closer.
“Early on, our cornerback, Cameron Trench, told me that I was doubtful to make to make it, but once I did make it, I think he noticed I was serious. I think it’s (work ethic) important because I proved to my teammates that they can trust me. I have become very close with (quarterback Dominic) Merka and the offensive line. You come closer by not being big-headed but telling them (teammates) ‘I can’t do this without you. This is a team effort and we have to work as a team to have any success.’”
Evans is aware a successful running game takes pressure off the passing game, and is glad he has been able to do that for his quarterback, Merka, and the wide receivers.
“When we run the ball, they stack the box, and that makes it easier for our wide receivers and for Merka to get out of the pocket.”
As a senior, Evans knows younger students look to him for leadership, and he says it’s important to not let them down.
“It’s very important to invest in them what’s been invested in us, and hopefully that will rub off on them,” he said.
Evans is on a team with 24 other seniors, and Flanigan said they do a great job of stepping up in the leadership roles.
“This group’s leadership has meant a great deal,” Flaningan said. “They’ve got great character. We were talking the other day about their greatest aspect, and that’s their willingness and ability to teach. What they teach will hopefully stay with the younger groups who will later step up into the leadership roles themselves and be able to teach the kids coming after them.”
As important as those future years might be, Flanigan and his Cougars know what’s at stake right now. They’re in the playoffs, but they’re not satisfied with just that.
“We’ve made the playoffs five years in a row now, and every year we want to advance further than the previous year. Last year we advanced to the second round, and although we ultimately want to go further than that this year, we’re only focused on beating Nederland.”
Whether it’s looking ahead to the next playoff game, or looking back at the success he’s had, Evans says the biggest key is consistency.
“You’ve got to finish what you’ve started,” he said. “When things get tough, you’ve got to push through even if that means getting in the mud.
“It’s more of us doing what we do,” he said. “If we play like we play we play, we’ll come out the ‘W’.”
The Baytown Sun Published November 14, 2009 The Crosby Cougars will look to their backfield as they fight to win today’s Class 4A Division I bidistict game against Nederland, a game set for 2 p.m. at Conroe’s Woodforest Stadium.
Cougar running back Jakacy Evans has run for nearly 800 yards and 17 touchdowns and knows the importance of hard work.
Coaches and teammates didn’t know how much he would contribute to the team but in the long run, he surprised them all.
“Jakacy didn’t play his junior year,” head coach Kevin Flanigan said. “At the beginning, we told him he had a lot of obligations to meet and we weren’t sure he was a kid we could count on consistently. But he’s proved to be a major positive part of the team.”
Evans did everything in his power to make the team his senior year and said it has been rewarding to see all his hard work pay off.
“It’s more rewarding that I proved people wrong,” he said. “There were people who said I couldn’t do it but I worked hard and just kept doing what I’m doing.”
In order to prove them wrong, Evans had a lot of requirements to meet. The coaching staff required its players to participate in team activities on a consistent basis.
“We have team workout days where we run 16 100s (100 yard dashes) and if you want to make the team, you have to be there at least 24 days,” Evans said. “I made every day consistently and I showed the coaches I was serious about wanting to play.”
His teammates’ attitudes changed after they saw how determined he was. Evans believes that’s one thing that helped bring his team closer.
“Early on, our cornerback, Cameron Trench, told me that I was doubtful to make to make it, but once I did make it, I think he noticed I was serious. I think it’s (work ethic) important because I proved to my teammates that they can trust me. I have become very close with (quarterback Dominic) Merka and the offensive line. You come closer by not being big-headed but telling them (teammates) ‘I can’t do this without you. This is a team effort and we have to work as a team to have any success.’”
Evans is aware a successful running game takes pressure off the passing game, and is glad he has been able to do that for his quarterback, Merka, and the wide receivers.
“When we run the ball, they stack the box, and that makes it easier for our wide receivers and for Merka to get out of the pocket.”
As a senior, Evans knows younger students look to him for leadership, and he says it’s important to not let them down.
“It’s very important to invest in them what’s been invested in us, and hopefully that will rub off on them,” he said.
Evans is on a team with 24 other seniors, and Flanigan said they do a great job of stepping up in the leadership roles.
“This group’s leadership has meant a great deal,” Flaningan said. “They’ve got great character. We were talking the other day about their greatest aspect, and that’s their willingness and ability to teach. What they teach will hopefully stay with the younger groups who will later step up into the leadership roles themselves and be able to teach the kids coming after them.”
As important as those future years might be, Flanigan and his Cougars know what’s at stake right now. They’re in the playoffs, but they’re not satisfied with just that.
“We’ve made the playoffs five years in a row now, and every year we want to advance further than the previous year. Last year we advanced to the second round, and although we ultimately want to go further than that this year, we’re only focused on beating Nederland.”
Whether it’s looking ahead to the next playoff game, or looking back at the success he’s had, Evans says the biggest key is consistency.
“You’ve got to finish what you’ve started,” he said. “When things get tough, you’ve got to push through even if that means getting in the mud.
“It’s more of us doing what we do,” he said. “If we play like we play we play, we’ll come out the ‘W’.”