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Tony McSwain • The Madill Record Kingston’s offense on the move in a game against Marietta in 2018. The team finished with a record of 11-2 last season and made it to the third round of the Class 2A playoffs.
A group of Kingston seniors spoke to the Madill Record about where the team stands ahead of their opener against Hugo on September 6.
We did a round robin interview with Seniors Kolton Daniel, Tyler Blanchard and Coltin Knape after practice on August 28.
Both Daniel and Knape play offensive and defensive line. Blanchard is a wide receiver and defensive back.
What happened in your playoff loss to Sperry?
Blanchard: We’ve just been working together as a team. We’re not really worried about what we did last year. We’re not worried about the playoffs. We’re worried about game one right now. We got injuries, but it was next man up.
Daniel: The injuries hurt but there were times we let our heads get to us. We’ll be up and doing good in the game. We’d get in the locker room and the morale changes. We’re all excited and think we have them beat.
Then, we come back out there and the other team gets all fired up and it’s a completely different game. They’re fighting to win still and we’re fighting like we already have them beat. We need to keep that push going the entire game this year. Never underestimate the other team at any point.
How do you describe the offense?
Knape: It’s big, strong and fast.
Daniel: We’ve got really good receivers. Some senior receivers like Tyler here. We’ve got some running backs who are younger but they know what they’re doing. They’re gonna fill the positions well.
Knape: We’ve got a good offense line to get up and get passes off and still run plays.
Blanchard: It’s gonna start up front for us.
Daniel: [Our line has] very good size, strength and smarts up front.
Any favorite plays?
Daniel: Just moving the chains. Whatever works.
Blanchard: Whatever coach calls, in our mind that’s what we gotta run. We gotta make it work. If he calls lead on third and 20, we’re gonna get out there and we’re gonna do it. We’re gonna try and get the first down.
Daniel: And most of the time we can. We’re pretty faithful in each other. I believe in every person out there on the field. I’m gonna get my job done for them cause they’re gonna get their job done for me.
The pressure of tradition
Daniel: I wouldn’t say we’re used to it, but we kind of are used to it. I think based on tradition, we’ll be kind of an underdog this year.
“We’ve lost some seniors and we’ve lost some people so I think we’re gonna be a little underestimated. But I think we’re gonna come out there and show people that nothing’s changed. And that we’re better than we were before.
Blanchard: I just do whatever coach asks me. If he asks me to run the deep ball I’ll do that to the best of my ability. If he asks me to run a short route, that’s okay.
Knape interjected and joked that Blanchard is like the rest of the Kingston squad: he’s an all-around threat.
Daniel: It’s what it is. I’m not a good pass setter. I’m not a good run blocker. We just get done whatever is supposed to get done. Everything we can call we have faith it will work.
There’s no trying to get the ball. If I need to run the safety off that play so the guy behind me can catch a slant, that’s cool.
Words on the Defense
Daniel: Don’t blitz a lot, but we got some kids that can get it done when they need to.
Blanchard: It depends on the game plan. If our game plan is we need to bring more heat to make the quarterback throw it. If we think our cover guys are good enough then we’ll sit back.