Landrum will get a strong test tonight (Friday, Aug. 24) when it steps out onto the field on the road at Broome.
The Cardinals will go up against one of those strange, rare offenses. Broome uses a Wing T variation that is filled with misdirection. It’s often hard to get a read on who’s going to carry the ball forward.
Landrum, under new offensive coordinators Jason Ledford and John Sparks, is continuing with the spread attack that the Cardinals found success with under former offensive coordinator Tucker Hamrick.
The two teams got a look at each other in the Iron City Jamboree at Blacksburg, S.C. Landrum’s spread attack was effective in Blacksburg against Bessemer City as the Cardinals dominated both sides of the ball.
Broome’s attack was effective as well, but didn’t find the same results. The Centurions held the ball for all but a minute against Blacksburg in the jamboree and ended up losing on a long interception in the end zone and a quick shot on one of the few possessions that the Wildcats got.
Regardless of that outcome, the Centurions’ style of play is a tough one to defend against, so the Cardinals will be on their toes defensively. Head coach Russell Mahaffey said he likes where his team is defensively. He’s got some youth on the interior of the defensive line, but the linebacker corps and the secondary is chock full of veteran defenders.
Offensively, all eyes will be Aaron Bryant, Peyton McCarter and JoJo Wilkins tonight. Wilkins, along with T.J. Fincher, will provide the running attack, while Bryant and McCarter look to develop a rhythm and chemistry in the passing game under real game conditions.