DeAndre Coates caught two touchdown passes in the Warriors convincing 41-19 win over Andrew on Sept. 6, but it may have been in the community where he was most impactful.
Coates was a responder to a local traffic accident last week, helping get drivers and passengers from their cars to safety. Then got back to work preparing for a tricky opponent in Andrew.
“Straight working after our win against Eisenhower last week, I went straight to work,” said Coates, who caught eight balls for 103 yards in the win over Andrew. “No stoppage. No nothing, straight work.”
Coates gave LWW the lead in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chase Hetfleisch, who was 10-of-13 passing for 126 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
However, the work in practice this week also involved preparing for Andrew’s triple option offense. Andrew battled back to take 13-7 lead as the first quarter came to an end.
“Whenever you play a triple option team, you gotta be fundamentally sound and play with great technique,” said Warriors coach Luke Lokanc, whose team improved to 2-0. “More than any other offense, the most important thing is you have to do your job. If you don’t do your job against an offense like this, big plays happen. That was kind of the mindset for all the boys.”
Hetfleisch and the rushing attack helped keep the defense off the field, scoring twice in the second quarter to give the Warriors a halftime advantage. Austin Roswell caught a touchdown pass to tie the game at 13-13 and then Jahan Abubakar put LWW ahead for good on a 10-yard run. Abubakar had another huge game, running 13 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
“Everyone on defense stepped up against that triple option,” said Coates. “I’d also like to highlight my other receiver Austin Roswell, he’s a dog. I love that man through all my heart and have been through thick and thin with him since freshman year.”
Roswell and Abubakar both tallied second half touchdowns as the Warriors began to wear down Andrew in the second half. While the defense held Andrew to just 74 yards in the second half, the offense helped control the ball, converting on 7-of-8 third downs in the game. Of course, a 51-yard touchdown run from Abubakar put the big-play ability on display.
“I don’t think it was any certain one adjustment, it was, kind of get into your zone, relax, make your read, play your game,” Lokanc said. “Our coaches are unbelievable, so they do a great job on the sidelines at halftime with these kids and put them in the right position for sure.”
Hetfleisch and Coates connected again for a 5-yard touchdown late in the game to round out the team effort.
Hetfleisch’s efficiency in the passing game and the defense’s work to stop the triple option are evidence of attention to detail.
“Make sure you’re always prepared and take care of all the little things,” Hetfleisch said. “You always have to do your 111. It’s just you, if you make a mistake, the whole team is gonna mess up because everyone has to do one job.”
