Rough night for Rigby doesn’t reflect a season of growth as Bears approach region play
If Friday night’s loss to Warner Robins was the first time you saw Houston County senior quarterback Max Rigby play you might have left Freedom Field -the Bears lost 29-14-not thinking much of the 6-3 signal-caller. But a loss does not make a man as much as a season does not make a career. Rigby, a three-year starter, spent much of Friday’s loss under pressure and made a number of tough throws with Demons in hot pursuit. Last year those throws might have ended up in the hands of opposing defensive backs (he did get a long pass intercepted early in the third quarter), this season they are either thrown away or to receivers.
With Houston County getting ready to begin their Region 1-6A schedule starting with a tough road game at Valdosta High School on Friday, a steady Rigby will go a long way to getting this team back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. “Our region will be a lot like that game [on Friday] and Max and our skill players will have to play well for us to have success,” said Bears head coach Ryan Crawford.
Indeed they do. With region games against Coffee (Oct. 25), Lee County (Nov. 1) and Northside (at McConnell-Talbert Stadium on Nov. 8) there is no longer room to lose a game or learn as they go. Rigby’s progression has helped the Bears to their first four-win non-region season since 2016 but that won’t cut in regards to a coveted spot in the 6A state playoffs.
A number of opportunities for the Bears to capitalize on having an experienced, much-improved quarterback and receivers were lost and those can be pinned to Rigby, who missed a couple of sure first downs and touchdowns opportunities against Warner Robins, a playoff-caliber team the likes of which the Bears will see plenty of over the next five weeks. “He did some good things, Warner Robins is a really good football team and he missed some throws that had potential to be big plays,” said Crawford. “You have to hit those against that defense.”
Rigby knows he has to be better despite having improved a ton from last season and light years from his debut as a sophomore. ” I think we played well at times and not too well at times,” said Rigby whose offense failed to score during the third quarter Friday. “A lot of unnecessary mistakes were made but it is what it is, we just have to move on and get better.”
Averaging close to 250 yards passing per game and having already surpassed the 1,300 yard mark for this season, Rigby has gotten better. He’s only thrown two interceptions this season.
That said he has to be even better beginning at Valdosta Friday night. “Region play starts [on Friday] and that’s all that matters,” said Rigby.
“The playoffs start next week,” added Crawford.
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