Rams prepare for what might be first real test

Reidsville will find out if it’s ready for the North State 2-A Conference schedule this week.
High Point Andrews invades Community Stadium Friday night for the Rams’ final tune-up before conference play begins the following week, also at home, against West Stokes.
In the first five weeks of the schedule, the Rams haven’t been tested by a weaker-than-expected set of opponents who have a combined record to date of 5-23.
Andrews brings a 3-1 mark to Reidsville and begins a stretch where all but one of the final six opponents currently have winning records. That’s a stunning turn of events for the North State 2-A where West Stokes is 4-1, Eastern Guilford 5-0, McMichael 5-1 and Southern Guilford 4-2. Only Winston-Salem Atkins, at 2-3, has a losing mark.
Reidsville is 5-0 and the closest game wasn’t close. The Rams have won by margins of 47, 37, 49, 32 and 43. Three of the five TDs the Rams have allowed came in the fourth quarter of games when most of Reidsville’s starters were resting.
The fast start to this season has just been a continuation of 2007 when the Rams went 16-0 and captured the state 2-AA championship.
Andrews is expected to give the Rams quite a challenge.
“They’re definitely the best-looking team we’ve seen on tape for sure,” RHS coach Jimmy Teague said after breaking down the scouting report. “It’ll be a different challenge for us – one that we’re looking forward to. We want to see where we’re at. Going into conference play, we need somebody to challenge us.”
Going into last week’s schedule, it appeared that both the Rams and Raiders would be undefeated. But while Reidsville kept up it’s part of the bargain with a 49-6 romp over Magna Vista, Andrews was tripped up by Asheboro 18-6. The Raiders had entered that game with victories over Greensboro Smith (41-0), Greensboro Grimsley (45-13) and High Point Central (23-16).
The question most asked about Andrews this week is the status of senior quarterback Jordan Reid. He missed the Asheboro game with a knee injury after passing for 232 yards against Greensboro Grimsley and leading the win over cross-town rival High Point Central the following week.
In the romp over Grimsley, Reid was 10 of 23 and spread his passes among seven different receivers. On the year, he is 26 of 49 for 441 yards and 6 touchdowns with two interceptions.
Reid is expected to be near 100 percent Friday night.
In Reidsville’s 35-12 win over Andrews a year ago, Reid threw for 148 yards and two touchdowns but he needed 30 passing attempts to do it.
One of those TDs was a 45-yard to Tony Washington, who’s still the big-play man at Andrews – a threat as a runner, receiver and kick returner.
Washington, a great athlete who is also a star on the Red Raiders’ basketball team, has caught 13 passes for 305 yards and run 51 times for 352 yards. He has three TDs rushing and three more receiving.
Teague and staff pretty much have only one video to look at since Andrews is a totally different team with Reid calling signals.
“What we’re planning defensively is what we saw against Central instead of what we saw against Asheboro,” he said. “He (Reid) is a good quarterback. They throw it around a lot when he’s the quarterback.”
Teague said the Rams would make no major adjustments on defense.
“There are some things we’ll do a little different because of the pass. But everything we do is something we’ve already done during the course of the year.”
The RHS defense includes Damien Lee, Jazz Totten, Kenneth Covington and Bryran Johnson across the front, Mike Stacey, Steve Williams, E.J. Foster and A.J. Williams at linebacker, Tyrell Houghton and Lyshod Graves on the corners and Kenzel Doe at free safety.
The Rams have limited their first five foes to just 59 yards a game passing and 80 yards per game on the ground. Opposing passers have completed just 30 percent of their tries with six interceptions.
Getting pressure on Reid will be crucial. A year ago, the Rams sacked him five times.
Offensively, the Rams have utilized the passing game more this season and senior quarterback Ray Ray Butchee has been on target. He’s 46 of 66 for 1,068 yards and 11 touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s coming off a career-high 305-yard passing effort against Magna Vista. Last year against Andrews, was 7 of 11 for 160 yards and three TDs.
He’s got a different set of receivers this time around but it’s been business as usual with Doe, Jarrett Barnett, Houghton, Niko McGirt and Graves on the flanks and Steve Williams and Lee at tight end.
The offensive line has been solid with Lance Spivey, Gabriel Hildebrand, Devin Sessoms, Totten and Johnson leading the way.
Foster, Stacey and Aaron Easton will share the running back duties.
Andrews’ defense is led by lineman Charles Goodwin, a 6-foot-6, 255-pound senior.
“He does stand out but they’ve got two or three other good defensive guys up front,” Teague said.
Andrews will also have the quickest secondary Reidsville has seen this season.
The Rams haven’t needed their punting team since the second game and have punted just once all season. Barnett is now the punter and if he punts Friday night it will be his first ever, JV or varsity.
Reidsville will be home after three straight road trips. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 at Community Stadium.