Randolph County offense sputters against Ohatchee

When an offense doesn’t click, a win is hard to come by.

That’s exactly the scenario the Randolph County Tigers found themselves in Friday night in a 6-0 region loss to Ohatchee.

After a pair of impressive wins over Winterboro and Woodland in the previous two weeks, the Tigers were uninspired against Ohatchee, according to head coach Pat Prestridge.

“We didn’t have a fire in us,” Prestridge said. “That’s just the way kids can be I guess. I guess we were just happy with what we’ve done the past two weeks.”

After an offensive awakening against Woodland and Winterboro, Prestridge said the Randolph County offense couldn’t get anything going.

The Tigers totaled a paltry 94 yards of offense, only 22 of which came in the rushing game, to Ohatchee’s 276 yards.

“We just didn’t have that spark going,” Prestridge said. “Sometimes, you’d think we were ready to be done.”

Undoubtedly, Randolph County’s inconsistencies on offense can be attributed to one of the most inexperienced teams in recent history, but as they proved against Woodland and Winterboro, the Tigers are capable of surprises.

“If you were watching us play Woodland to this week, you’d think it was a different football team,” Prestridge said.

Defensively, the Tigers were adequate, holding Ohatchee scoreless until the fourth quarter.

But Prestridge insists there wasn’t much positive on either side of the ball.

“Basically we didn’t do anything on offense,” Prestridge said. “There was no rhythm at all. And on defense, we just didn’t hit anybody.”

After the Tigers’ aggressive play the previous two weeks, Prestridge said he expected more of the same against Ohatchee. But it wasn’t there.

“When you don’t hit anybody, nobody fears you,” Prestridge said.

Ohatchee scored the lone touchdown of the game with 11:54 left in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard run.

This week, things don’t get any easier for Randolph County as they host a much-improved Lineville Aggies team.

Prestridge said the key to winning the game this week will be getting focused early.

“Our kids have got to learn how to get serious and mentally prepare,” Prestridge said. “It can’t be right before kickoff. It has to be Monday through Friday.”