CRESTVIEW — Four games into the season, Crestview High School football Coach Tim Hatten is still looking for answers to jumpstart what has been an anemic Bulldog offense.
Crestview (0-4) is coming off a weather-shortened 21-0 loss to Navarre in which the Bulldogs managed less than 150 yards in total offense. If there were a silver lining in the cloud that Hatten can build on as Crestview prepares to travel to Fort Walton Beach (1-3) Friday, it might be the running game.
“We had 128 yards rushing the ball in a half, which is positive,” Hatten said. “But we have to establish some sort of identity on offense and be able to score and keep our defense off the field.”
Hatten hopes to bolster the sluggish offense with an infusion of new blood. Freshmen Rodderick Skinner, Keon Voisin and Kenny Whaley will join the varsity from the freshman team.
Hatten said the trio of ninth-graders, which will bring some speed to the offense, will definitely play against the Vikings.
Hatten expects Fort Walton Beach to line up in a base four-man front on defense and occasionally give the Bulldogs a different look with a three-man front.
He isn’t as concerned with what the Vikings will show the Bulldogs as he is with how Crestview will respond.
“I just think we have to really concentrate on what we do,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what they do. We have to do what we do based on the numbers that we get.
“We have to execute like we did in the spring. We are not trying to be fancy and roll up 600 yards in offense. We just want to take what they give us.”
Hatten said Fort Walton Beach runs different variations of the spread offense.
“Sometimes they have two backs and no tight end,” Hatten said. "Sometimes it will be a 21 look – two backs and one tight end. They are a shotgun team.
“They’ve got the players that can run around. They’ve got a couple of athletes. They are not a whole lot different the most of the teams we play, to be honest with you.”
UPCOMING
WHAT: High school football, Crestview at Fort Walton Beach
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Fort Walton Beach High School, Steve Riggs Stadium
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldogs look for answers against Vikings