RISON - In an interview Monday morning at the Pride Fieldhouse, Rison head coach Caleb Carmikle reflected on last Friday night's tough first round playoff loss to Jessieville, but quickly and eagerly looked ahead to the approaching offseason program and even to the 2024 season.
"We played to the end," Carmikle said, commenting about the Wildcats' 40-27 loss to the Lions, 7-4, who are moving on to face undefeated Salem in the second round. "There wasn't any quit in us. We lost to a good, strong football team, and I do believe they (and their coach, T.J. Burk) had some extra motivation for this game from their loss in the playoffs here two years ago. They (Jessieville) scored touchdowns off three of our (four) turnovers, and that's tough to overcome in any game, especially the playoffs. It was tough to get things going against them offensively, and they took away some of the things we had been having success with. When they got that onsides kick to start the game, and then hit the long touchdown pass, that was tough. I was proud of the way we responded, though, to get a lead, but they constantly kept pressure on us. Defensively, we had a hard time stopping them, and they made some big conversion plays to keep some drives going." Looking at the crucial sequence midway of the third quarter, when Jessieville was ahead, 28-21, with Rison in second and five at the Lions' 8-yard line, Carmikle reviewed that moment when the game's tide turned.
"When we had that second and five at their 8, I knew we were having some confusion on setting up our next play," Carmikle said. "Right there, I should have called a timeout. I didn't, and that's on me." On the play, quarterback Owen Morrison was sacked for a 9-yard loss. After an incomplete pass, the 'Cats were flagged for motion, leaving them fourth and 19 at the 22. Morrison's desperation pass was intercepted, with the return and a major penalty against Rison at the end of the play literally flipping the field,...
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