By Chris Mazzocco

With a nationally televised victory under their belt and a new found swagger in the step of the defense the Gorillas will play host to another opponent from the Lone Star Conference. East Central University of Ada Oklahoma will travel to Pittsburg in the rematch of the season opener from a year ago.

As with most LSC opponents, the look of the roster changes like the colors of the fall leaves. That’s a poor attempt to poetically say these schools tend to have a high rate of turnover only to be filled by transfers from the junior college ranks. Last week the Gorillas played a combination of the best Kilgore and Blinn players, meshed together in a Lions uniform. This week the Gorillas will face a combination of the top Cisco and Trinity Valley players.

The Tigers had a rough go of it in their season opener at Tarleton State as they were held to just 150 total yards of offense and a staggering negative 30 yards rushing (41 yards gained, 71 yards lost). The Tiger defense was victimized for 499 yards of offense and 44 points.

Some say a team progresses the most between the first and second week of the season. It gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate how their players react to game situations. That is exactly what Head Coach Kurt Nichols plans to do. “We found out a lot about ourselves on Saturday. Changes are going to be made, especially on the offensive line and the defensive secondary. We need to step up as a coaching staff as well. We are going to simplify things so the kids can play more physical and less mental”.

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By Chris Mazzocco

There is little doubt there is a lot of talent on the Lions roster. The question is how soon will they come together and play as a team. Ten of the players slated to start Saturday are first year players to the Commerce program but Head Coach Scotty Conley believes his team has meshed well.

“We have some unknown but all in all we are playing well together. The offense was together in the spring so they are a little more familiar with each other. A lot of the defense arrived this spring so they are more unknowns on that side of the ball”.

One of just a hand full of valuable players returning is senior running back Eddie Moss. Moss split time in 2006 and played in eight games, rushing for 341 yards on 68 carries. Moss, brother of Fort Hays State defensive back Mark Moss, has had an outstanding spring and fall camp and will be a large factor in Commerce success this season.

The Lions ran the ball eighty-one percent of the time last season but Conley would like to see that change some. “Last season we ran so much out of necessity not design.” Conley responds to questions of the Lions conservative play calling. “For two years now we have wanted to try to be more balanced, but we never got the production from our quarterback to be successful.”

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Teamkong was founded shortly after the 2000 season.

Boy, have things changed.

Carnie Smith Stadium has evolved quite a bit in the last seven years. It hardly looks like the same place.

The Gorilla offense has really changed, from the split back veer, to our present day-every formation, except the split back formation. This year I think the Gorillas will spread the field more than ever, and spread the ball around more than ever as well.

The Gorillas must continue to change each and every year to get better and to stay competitive. Teamkong is the same way.

Each year we have tried to add something new, and have tried to keep up with technology. That is quite difficult for someone like me who really only knows enough to be dangerous when it comes to the web.

Thanks to people like Chris Wilson, Brandon Misener, Darren Dawson, and Rich White I have tried (with their help) to keep Teamkong on the forefront of technology, without breaking the bank.

Throughout the years TK has been fortunate to have some sponsors which helps defray some of the expense to run this site. We appreciate them greatly. Early on it was National Pizza, Watco, and Pepsi of Pittsburg. Last year University National Bank was our only sponsor. This year Jock’s Nitch has stepped up to the plate in a big way. Hopefully more sponsors will be added this season. Read the rest of this entry »