Sports

’Cats eye fast start

• The South Georgia Wildcats have been outscored, 93-55, in the first quarter this season and hope to avoid another slow start Saturday against Tennessee Valley.

Paul Dehner Jr.

ALBANY — The first six weeks of the South Georgia Wildcats’ season has been defined by thrilling finishes.

The last-second pass from Andrico Hines to Scott Cloman in Texas provided the latest example.

As exhilarating as those wins were, the Wildcats are ready for a change of pace.

“To blow a team out is really what you want when you go out there,” defensive back Pierre Lee said. “A win is a win, but we have to stop letting teams hang around with us like that.”

That begins from the opening kick. South Georgia has been awful in the first quarter this season, being outscored 93-55.

The problem of consistent slow starts has been addressed repeatedly by coach Derek Stingley throughout the season, but the team continues to struggle in that area.

They are 2-of-10 on third-down conversions in the quarter. They also have three turnovers, nine penalties and have allowed four scores of more than 30 yards.

Putting a finger on how to fix the problem leaves players like Hines guessing. But with a Tennessee Valley team the Wildcats needed a miracle lateral to beat in Week 1 coming to town, they know it’s time to figure it out.

“I wish I knew,” he said. “I guess it is the mentality of the team. I guess we say we’ll take your best punch then take it from there, but we don’t have to start the fight like that every time.”

IMPRESSIVE RETURNS

In each of the three seasons since the Wildcats franchise moved to Albany, the team has totaled three kick returns for touchdowns.

P.J. Berry changed that this year.

Berry has reached that total in the last three games, now running back a kickoff in each of the last trio of contests. That includes breaking a 45-45 tie in the fourth quarter last Sunday at Austin.

“He plays 100 percent at 100 mph. When you are returning kicks, it is all about straight ahead speed,” Stingley said. “Once he gets the ball, he is just straight ahead, he isn’t waiting. He is a tough tackle to begin with.

You are not going to bring him down with one arm.

“He is an exciting, special kid. This is probably everyone’s last year seeing him play in the af2.”

HINES HURTING

Hines missed a set of plays in the Austin game on Sunday after hyper-extending his knee. He returned to go 18-of-27 for 270 yards and six touchdowns.

He is expected to play Saturday against Tennessee Valley and said Wednesday he was 85-90 percent.

“If I can walk, I can play,” the QB said.

FINDING BUCHIE

The lone underdeveloped aspect of the potent Wildcats receiving corps this season has been Buchie Ibeh.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound wideout came in with a tenured resume as a superstar and playmaker in the Arena Football League and af2.

To this point, he’s only caught one touchdown pass and topped 50 yards in a game just once.

Much of the reasoning has centered around coverages shading to stop him.

Ibeh says the team is working on different ways to clear spaces, but acknowledges his desire to contribute.

“My breakout game is well past due,” said Ibeh, who has nine catches for 78 yards in the past three games. “It’ll come. When it does, it’ll be big.”

HARRIS IN THE FOLD

Starting linebacker James Harris was activated off injured reserve Thursday.

Expected to be a playmaker before the season started, the former Albany State star will play in the mix with acquired pass rushers Joe Woolridge and Ray Gant for the first time Saturday.

Defensive back Lawrence Wade was placed on injured reserve to open the roster spot.

TENNESSEE THREE-STEP

Tennessee Valley enters Saturday’s matchup with the Vipers on a three-game win streak.

It has been a complete 180 after starting the season 0-3 and losing to the Wildcats in the season opener.

South Georgia, however, will be aiming for a five consecutive win against the Vipers.

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