WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 8, 2007: The White Plains Tigers defeated Mamaroneck High, 21-14 Saturday to get off their new league schedule positively. Coach Skip Stevens commented," I thought we played fairly well, but have a few minor things to adjust. As you can imagine the game had a number of early mistakes, but I thought our team handled all the adversity with maturity and worked extremely hard for the victory."
Crunch! Slap! The "smap, crackle and pop" of collisions of plastic pads and the crisp reverbs of solid blocks and hits echoed with each snap, lunge and clash of offense against defense rising in the sultry air Thursday afternoon on the practice gridiron at White Plains High School. Then the White Plains Tigers opened the season successfully at Mamaroneck High School Saturday afternoon. WPCNR talked with football coach, Skip Stevens Thursday about the 2007 Tigers.
WHITE PLAINS TIGERS Running Plays Thursday Afternoon
In Tigers We Trust: Coach Stevens is relying on, L to R,
Senior Tom Kornblit, Outside Linebacker/Defensive Line; James Bryant, Junior, Running Back/Defensive back; Senior Ray Mitchell, Running Back/Defensive Back; Mike Howard, Senior, Quarterback/Strong Safety; and Senior receiver, Tight End, Defensive End, Savaughn Greene.
White Plains Tiger Coach Skip Stevens.
WPCNR SPORTS: What can we look for offensively?
Coach Skip Stevens: Offensively, we have such a variety of kids we can go to anybody at anytime. We have about eight running backs, tightends and quarterbacks who can make plays and scored for us.
WPCNR: Who can we look for?
Coach: Ray Mitchell, a senior, returning tailback; Savaughn Greene, returning tight end, Mike Howard who’s going to play various positions on offense. We have two quarterbacks who are doing it now, Marquis Williams and Cody Martin, either one of them can make plays.
WPCNR: Can we expect any new looks?
Coach: We’re going to try to be more multiple by more formations, giving more people the ball and by not being the standard “Eye.”
WPCNR: You were strong defensively last year. How do we look this year?
Coach: I think we’re definitely trying something new on defense. We playing more of an aggressive style to the strong side, but we’re playing our normal sound defensive style on the backside. We’re going to be multiple in the secondary, playing different coverages. What I will say about this group is they run to the ball better than a group than we’ve had in a number of years. Definitely more speed.
WPCNR: Tell me about Mamaroneck Saturday’s opening opponent.
Coach: We haven’t played Mamaroneck in about four or five years. They run a different offense. They’re in an EYE, but they’ll try to play the professional zone style of blocking which causes a problem if you’re not big and strong, and I think right now it’s going to be a good matchup. Our offensive and defensive line is very strong. They got in the weight room and I will say they are so far ahead of what I thought we’d be at this point in time, it’s a pleasure.
WPCNR: How much heavier are you?
Coach: We’re much bigger up front. 290 at one tackle, 225 at the other tackle, 240 at center 215 and 210 at the guards.
WPCNR: Secondary fast?
Coach: Secondary’s very fast and multiple. We have more than just four people back there. We can shelve that safety or corner and not got hurt with speed and quickness.
WPCNR: How do you like the new league?
Coach: I don’t like the new league for one reason. The traditional rivalries that go back a hundred years should always stay complete and intact. We’re not playing New Rochelle. Even with the success New Rochelle has had, you always want to play the best to be the best, and not playing them is really disappointing.
WPCNR talked to several of the Tigers being counted on heavily this year to step.
Ray Mitchell said, “I think we’re going to be much better this year. Everything’s pretty much shapping up. I think it’s going to be a lot run, we’re just gonna blow it up, push them back.”
James Bryant on defense…”It all goes back to the weight room. Things we do in the weight room are the things we do out here. You’ll see the same White Plains defense, more dedication more heart. Low zone coverage in the secondary, run to the ball.
Savaughn Greene said, “We have a lot of good athletic receivers: Ray Mitchell, James Bryant, and James Briggs.” Greene said even though WPCNR said it sounded “crunchy” out there, that the offense had been giving out the hits not taking them.
Mike Howard known for the halfback option, promised his arm was stronger this year and he promised he’d be throwing deeper.
They will play a schedule in League AA Central, moving from League AA South. The class of the league is John Jay and Horace Greely which both finished 8-2 last year and both teams have a strong contingent of returning players. Mamaroneck is coming off a 3-7 season last year with Scarsdale and Yorktown rounding out the league.
The Tigers first home game is October 13 against Horace Greeley at Delfino Park.
Next week the Tigers face Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon in a non-league contest.
