Jerrell McDaniels is the best high-school wide receiver that Hickman football coach Jason Wright has ever seen.
The problem is that McDaniels plays for the East St. Louis Flyers, the team opposing the Hickman Kewpies in tonight’s game.
“He has great hands and loves to compete,” Wright said. “He always wants the ball in his hands.”
Slowing down the All-State receiver is the focus for the Hickman defense in tonight’s game, and Wright has a slightly different view on how to keep him in check.
“You are not going to stop him,” Wright said. “We are hoping to contain him by knowing where he is at all times and jamming him on the line of scrimmage.”
Derrick Smith is one of the players who will be trying to contain McDaniels. Smith views facing McDaniels positively.
“It is a challenge to show people what we can do,” he said. “Because (McDaniels) is such an explosive guy.”
McDaniels also lines up on the defensive side of the ball, and Wright hopes his offense can wear him down so he will be less effective offensively.
As a team, East St. Louis is loaded with speed and athletic ability.
“They have blazing speed,” Wright said. “They are not the norm. I have never seen a team this fast at the high school level.”
Playing sound, fundamental defense is paramount for Hickman to succeed. That includes finishing tackles.
“We have to wrap up,” Smith said. “If we don’t they will take it to the house every time.”
McDaniels may be the headliner, but East St. Louis boasts some other impressive offensive weapons, namely quarterback Derrick Johnson, a third-year starter for the Flyers.
“He has great touch, great mechanics and doesn’t get rattled,” Wright said.
Wright hopes to slow down the Flyers’ offensive juggernaut, which scored 47 points against Lincoln-Way Central of Chicago in their opening game Aug. 25 by keeping them off the field as much as possible.
“We have to control the ball,” he said. “We want to burn some clock and limit our turnovers. We can’t give them a short field.”
Wright said he is also concerned that East St. Louis has played a game while his Hickman team will be playing for the first time.
“They have an advantage,” he said. “It is going to take about two series (for our team) to adjust to game speed.”
Smith said he thinks the Kewpies have the advantage in preparation.
“They didn’t have a chance to see us on film,” he said. “We were able to see them.”