With everything the McComb Tigers have been through this year, the pressure for the next two games will be higher than it has been for the early part of the year.
“It’s been interesting,” McComb head coach Randy Martin said. “We’ve been young and then we got hurt, but the kids have played hard all year.”
The Tigers have been shutout, blown out, have lost by three after being down by 20, and last week lost in a tight game from the start.
On Friday, McComb (2-6, 1-3) has its homecoming game against Florence (3-5, 1-3).
With the Tigers needing a win, this week may not be the best to host homecoming — with all of its events and sideshows.
“It’s one of those weeks you don’t like because of the distractions,” Martin said.
McComb has had a week to fix what made up the final margin last week.
“The ballgame could’ve went either way,” Martin said. “Our offense was down, and they had a little something to do with that with their pressure.”
The Tigers also were missing tailback Mario Smith, who carried the ball just once because of injury. He is day-to-day, but Demarcus Jenkins and Ashton Elzey will continue taking snaps, and quarterback Marshall Dexter ran a season-high 19 times against Mendenhall.
The other half of the equation last week was the offensive timing. With Mendenhall bringing extra players, it left the secondary vulnerable.
The Tigers weren’t able to take advantage of those opportunities and if Smith doesn’t see much action this week, the passing game will be counted on to move the ball better than it did last week.
Two wins in McComb’s final games will probably put them in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots between Mendenhall and Forest Hill.
“If you’re in, then you’re supposed to be there,” Martin said. “The wins and losses take care of themselves.”
The Tigers have had good practices the past three weeks, and Martin said the team is much different than the one that started the year.
“If you get rid of the record or the season we have a whole different team today,” Martin said. “That’s they they’re looking at it.”
