Waskom has started 2-0 in 2012, and coach Whitney Keeling believes the key so far has been execution.

The Wildcats, who host 3-0 Queen City on Friday, have yet to allow a point after shutouts of Simms Bowie (39-0) and Sabine (32-0).

"We changed our defense up a little bit from last year and had some kids move up from the junior high to the high school and that's made us better," said Keeling, who is 10-12 in his third season at Waskom. "The kids have bought into the weight room and gotten bigger and stronger and faster. We've been very fortunate to execute the game plan that we've had for that week."

Obviously, the offense hasn't been bad, either, as evidenced by the 35.5 points per game the Wildcats average. A well-executed running game has been the key. The Wildcats have run the ball 85 times in two games, while throwing only seven times.

Waskom's Gage Meshell. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Waskom's Gage Meshell. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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Waskom coach Whitney Keeling. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Waskom coach Whitney Keeling. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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Quarterback William KcKnight leads Waskom with 253 rushing yards and one touchdown on 19 carries for an average of 13.3 yards per carry. Gage Meshell (108), Denzel Hughes (107), and Kevin Johnson (104) each have eclipsed the century mark in their first two contests. Johnson has scored three total touchdowns, including one receiving, and Meshell has rushed for two scores.

Waskom's triple-option offense requires McKnight to play smart. Keeling said he's done that.

"The quarterback has to make the right read and everything has to be done right," Keeling said. "We've got three or four kids that can run pretty good and that's helped us out."

Waskom's Friday game against Queen City is the Wildcats' final non-district contest before a long, seven-game District 9-2A Division II schedule that starts at New Diana next week.

"We've told those kids you don't get a chance for five (non-district) games to get better at it. It's a very fast turnaround," Keeling said. "What we've been concentration on mostly isn't the opponent, but ourselves."

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