Sweetwater’s Malik Arnett runs the ball during the 2021 season.

Sweetwater’s Malik Arnett runs the ball during the 2021 season.

Sweetwater may not have had the Copper Basin scrimmage finalized on the calendar until a day or two before it took place, but the Wildcats made sure to finish on the field and put together a strong basis showing ahead of the jamboree and the looming season opener at Meigs County on Aug. 19.

The ’Cats moved the ball well, held the Cougars to only one touchdown and did not turn the ball over at all on the day. It was a solid day of work for Mike Martin’s program that started in the trenches.

“I thought we finished a little bit better than we had the week before. We came off and drove people in our double teams and combos. We finished blocks and had a couple of good blocks downfield on linebackers,” Martin said. “I just thought, as a unit, our offensive line was better than it has been. We made improvements, but we will have to continue to improve.”

Sweetwater executed on offense, creating a number of scoring plays from the usual suspects.

Malik Arnett broke through the middle for a 70-yard touchdown run while Landen Boyd connected with Dallas Presley for a 20-yard touchdown. Boyd also busted out a 40-yard rushing score.

“Our execution was pretty good. I don’t think we had any turnovers, so I was pleased with where we are for our second scrimmage, but we will always work to get better,” Martin said. “We did not have any interceptions or fumbles. We were able to play a lot of young players, so that was some good experience. We just have to keep on working.”

The scrimmage started with both sides having three sets of 10 offensive and defensive plays — 30 offensive, 30 defensive and 60 overall.

Following that, both did down and distance possession series before moving to goal line scenarios and in-game situations — such as 3rd-and-9 or 3rd-and-3.

Each team ran the third down and goal line scenario plays four times each.

Sweetwater scored on two of the four 1st-and-goals from the 10 — via an Arnett run and a Boyd pass to Ryan Littleton while converting three of four 3rd-and-long and 3rd-and-short plays.

“We got cranked up pretty good and I think Copper Basin got cranked up pretty good too,” Martin said. “Third and long is something we have to work on and get better at, but I can remember Brayden Westfield having a big run for 40 yards and Landen Boyd completing (a pass) to Wesley Bean on an out route.”

The two teams ended the day with a JV game.

“In a good way and a bad way, I thought we played hard and got after it. I thought our offensive line got physical and a little dirty — in a good way,” Martin said. “Execution-wise, we were pretty solid. I was proud of that.”

However, the day was not perfect. Issues arose for the ’Cats, specifically penalties.

“We have to clean that up. In a game, that is going to kill us,” Martin said.

Sweetwater generated a stop on 3rd-and-3 in the situational plays, but was called for a 15-yard penalty that would reset the downs in a game-like scenario.

“I talked to them after the game about it, but it is my fault. We have to start incorporating some of these penalties into practice,” Martin said. “We were sloppy in that area at times, but that is a thing I hope we can clean up.”

Holdings and false starts made the bulk of the calls. Penalties were an issue for Sweetwater in 2021, specifically playing a role in the 34-27 loss to Signal Mountain.

“The last three years we have dealt with some penalties. As a head coach, you always try to play the game as clean as possible. A holding call here and there is going to happen; I don’t concern myself with that,” Martin said. “False starts — that is on the offensive player. You are just sitting there and looking at the ball, so you have to be focused. The 15-yarders are the ones we can’t have — the late hits, face masks and personal foul-type penalties. We cannot have those.

“Over the past few years, for some reason, we have had trouble with face mask penalties. We have to knock those things out and focus on that the next few weeks before we open up against Meigs County.”

Sweetwater’s defense played a solid game, shutting Copper Basin out in the 10-play series and on down and distance.

“As a unit, we got after it pretty good. (Copper) could not get a hold of anything with the run game, so they tried to throw it some. I thought our defensive backs came out and had a pretty good night,” Martin said. “We got after them pretty good and I thought our defense played well and got better.”

Copper Basin scored on a quarterback scramble turned touchdown pass during the 1st-and-goal scenarios.

Presley played a solid night at corner but left the scrimmage early with a knee injury. There is no timeline for him at the moment.

Sweetwater returns to action at the Polk County Jamboree on Aug. 12. The ’Cats face Polk County in the fifth quarter at 8:30 while the games start at 6 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased from Sweetwater High School in advance for $5 with the funds fully going to Sweetwater. Gate tickets at the jamboree will cost $7 with the total split between the participating schools.

Email: noah.houck@advocateanddemocrat.com

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