Addison, Bobcats focus on playoffs
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, November 14, 2001
BOGUE CHITTO – Senior tailback Dominique Addison and his BogueChitto teammates have high aspirations in the Class 1A statefootball playoffs. Winning a state championship is their ultimategoal.
Addison tuned up for the state playoffs by helping the Bobcatsbeat Enterprise 20-10 last Friday night at Enterprise. He rushedthe football 16 times for 189 yards and 1 touchdown. Thatperformance earned him The Daily Leader’s Offensive Player ofthe Week Award for the 11th week of the 2001 campaign.
The Bobcats (10-1, 8-1), realizing their best-ever season,host the Union Yellowjackets Friday night in the first round of theplayoffs. Kickoff is 7:30 on Troy Smith Field.
Addison (5-11, 210) has rushed for 1,335 yards and scored 20touchdowns this season. He also plays outside linebacker ondefense.
Bogue Chitto head coach Carl Cole recognizes Addison’sathletic ability. “Dominique is a good back. He’s strong and he hassome speed. He runs with a lot of body lean.”
According to Cole, Addison has shown steady improvement. “Hehas gotten better and better every week.”
Addison played fullback last season and was used mainly as ablocker. The switch to tailback has given Bogue Chitto an awesome1-2 offensive punch. Teammate Denard Ferguson has rushed for 1,085yards at tailback this year.
Against Enterprise, Addison said the most successfuloffensive play was 26 Power. “The line is zone blocking. Thefullback (John Wallace) leads (block) between the tackle and tightend and picks up the linebacker. Then I make my move.”
The play worked well against Enterprise. “On some plays, thesafety was the only one left to tackle me,” said Addison. “I gotsome big runs.
“Our line does well every week blocking,” said Addison. “Weare mostly seniors and we’ve been playing varsity together for agood while.”
Working in the offensive line are Ace Wallace at center,Lindsey Jackson at right guard, Ernie Johnston at right tackle,Anthony Stevenson at left guard, Caleb McCaffery at left tackle andPaul Martin at tight end.
Bogue Chitto is taking a workman-like approach to theplayoffs. The Bobcats are making a third straight state playoffappearance but the first two were on the road and they lost to Mizeand Puckett.
“This is just another game to get where we want to go,” saidAddison. “We want a state championship. Coach Cole said we haven’tplayed our best game yet.”
Besides running back and linebacker, Addison also plays onspecial teams and punts. He punted once for 51 yards againstEnterprise.
“I like being a receiver, too,” said Addison. “I get raggedin practice for running routes with the receivers.”
An A-B student in the classroom, Addison said he wants toplay college football. His favorite college team is Ole Miss andhis favorite player in former Rebel tailback Deuce McAllister whowas drafted No. 1 by the New Orleans Saints.
Addison enjoys watching the Green Bay Packers andquarterback Brett Favre on television. “I think Brett Favre is thebest quarterback in the NFL I hope he makes it to the SuperBowl.”
Johnston (6-6, 300), an outstanding lineman, is beingrecruited by Auburn and LSU. He said he enjoys blocking forAddison, Ferguson, Wallace and quarterback Jacob Leggett. “I loveblocking for Dominique. It makes my job worth doing.”
The next job for Addison and his teammates is beating UnionFriday night on Troy Smith Field.