Turn it around

The Tolar Rattlers entered halftime at home against the De Leon Bearcats trailing 14-2.

They ended the game winning 23-17 for their first victory of the young season, taking the lead late on a 59-yard pass from Wesley Miller to Reese Robinson with 4:58 left in the game.

So what was the dramatic schematic change the Rattler coaches made at halftime to turn the game around?

Turns out, not much.

“We didn’t really necessarily draw up anything crazy new,” Tolar head coach Jeremy Mullins said. “We just said, ‘Hey, let’s execute, and get after it.’

The De Leon defense forced three turnovers, all in the second quarter, which put the Rattler defense up against the wall. The Bearcats controlled the field position battle and converted those Tolar mistakes into two touchdowns.

“We always talk about taking care of the ball,” Mullins said. “That’s been our Achilles’ heel in non-district the last couple of years, it seems like.”

Miller was hounded in the first half by a good De Leon defense, and Mullins said the Rattlers “struggled” moving the ball in the first two quarters. At the half, Tolar had 53 total yards.

But after halftime, the Rattlers adjusted, giving Miller more time in the pocket to throw.

“I really thought up front we did a much better job in the second half,” Mullins said. “We also ran the ball better in the second half. We got after it a little better and won the second half.”

The winning pass came to Robinson on a go route down the field.

“It was a bomb,” Mullins said. “It was pretty – Wesley put it right on the money.”

Defensively, Brett Jackson was a one-man wrecking crew. The senior linebacker finished with four sacks, 15 tackles and a forced fumble, and also recorded a safety for the opening score of the game.

“He had an MVP type game,” Mullins said.

Tolar suffered a major blow with a knee injury to sophomore running back Colton Tuggle, who was having a solid season before going down. Mullins said they would do further testing on him early this week, and that there will be a battle to find his replacement.

But despite the loss of Tuggle, there is still momentum to be gained from mounting the comeback against De Leon.

“If anything, it shows our guys that what we’re doing is working,” Mullins said. “That’s two games in a row where we’ve fought for four quarters.”

HOMESTAND

The Rattlers will continue their three-game home stretch with a game against the Early Longhorns (1-1) Friday.

Early has been on the giving and receiving end of two blowouts, losing 44-7 to Bangs and beating Coleman 42-14. The Longhorns run a spread offense, which is a marked change from the power teams Tolar has faced thus far.

“We’ve gone two weeks in a row now of playing an offense that’s under center, two-back, tight end, and now we’re going to the spread,” Mullins said. “It’s an adjustment. Our back end, our DBs, it’ll be big this week that we’re on the same page coverage-wise.”

The big weapon for Early is senior wide receiver Timmy Smithson (5-8, 145), who had 16 touchdowns and was named to an All-State team last year. Against Coleman, Smithson had six catches for 109 yards and a score.

Tolar will focus on limiting Smithson’s effectiveness. Early throws to him often, so if the Rattlers can make the Longhorns go elsewhere, Tolar should have an advantage.

The Rattlers will also try to corral some of the Longhorns’ speedy backs. Tackling in space, Mullins said, will be key.

Defensively, Early lines up in a four-man front. Mullins hopes to “get the running game going” against the Longhorns.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. from Rattler Stadium.

grant@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 254