Red Foxes ready for challenge

By: | SCNow
Published: October 16, 2008

The Hartsville Red Foxes have faced a variety of obstacles during coach Jeff Calabrese’s tenure and one constant challenge — the Conway Tigers.

For the third time in the last two seasons, the Red Foxes tangle with Conway on Friday in the Morning News Game of the Week.

Hartsville is 1-3 against the Tigers since Calabrese’s arrival in 2005, including a pair of memorable games last season.

The Red Foxes watched a lead slip away at Kelleytown during their first matchup against the Tigers last season. But Hartsville responded with a 21-14 victory during the first round of the Class 4A playoffs in Conway.

Still, Calabrese isn’t expecting to see a repeat of either of last year’s games.

“We’ve only got a few starters coming back who played in either of those games,” Calabrese said. “So, it’s going to be a new experience for a lot of the kids, but I think they can handle it.

“They played very well under the lights at Myrtle Beach.”

Calabrese also isn’t expecting the same Conway team as last season either.

“Conway is a little different this year,” Calabrese said. “They’re designed around the run game a little more this year. They do a lot of play-action passes that are all within about a 10 to 15-yard radius. So, it’s a little different look. You have to make sure you’re prepared to stop the run.”

Conway’s offense will present a unique challenge for Hartsville, Calabrese added.

“So far this season, we’ve seen a lot of spread offenses and teams that have a lot of wideouts all over the place,” he said. “Conway’s going to be more of a team that lines up and comes right at you.”

The same could be said for Hartsville’s offense as well. The Red Foxes have rushed for 2,224 yards so far this season. Quaterback Shawn Smith gives Hartsville a reliable running or passing option.

“Hartsville’s probably the best offense we’ve seen this year,” Conway coach Chuck Jordan said. “They get the ball and they control it. That’s a big concern for us.

“We have to make sure that defensivley we force some three and outs and that offensively, we control the ball a little bit and put points on the board.”

Hartsville’s defense has been opportunistic this season as well, forcing 13 turnovers, including 11 interceptions.

“We have to make sure we hold onto the ball,” Jordan said. “You can’t give Hartsville a short field to work with or you’re in trouble.

“Hartsville’s a great team, and we have to make sure that we’re on top of our game.”