NEDERLAND — Central Jaguars coach Toby Foreman really has no idea what to expect tonight against the Nederland Bulldogs, as far as personnel goes.
He has watched film on the Bulldogs but has seen three different quarterbacks and three different running backs on video.
“It is hard to tell what they are going to do,” Foreman said. “All their guys bring something different to the table. It is hard to tell what their strengths are when certain guys are in. We just have to be able to identify what they are doing and adjust to that.”
Tackling, or a lack there of, seemed to be a theme coming from Nederland coach Larry Neumann.
It was perfect timing considering the team got in a new product to try and helping with tackling. Nederland ordered a couple of ‘Roll Tackle Rings’ two months ago and they came in for Neumann this week.
“They must be pretty popular because we were back-ordered,” Neumann said. “It is just an apparatus. It is used for tackling technique, so you don’t risk injury on a human being. They are mobile and can be rolled. The emphasis is on keeping your eyes and head up so you can finish the tackle.”
Junior defensive end Tiren Forney was one of the Bulldogs ready to see the mobile tackling ring for the first time Wednesday.
“Practice is about to be fun,” Forney said. “It will be fun to hit something that is moving besides a teammate.”
The Bulldogs and Jaguars both come in needing a District 22-5A win. The Jaguars are currently fifth in the standings at 1-2 and the Bulldogs are sixth at 1-3 following the District Executive Committee’s vote Wednesday that forced Nederland to forfeit its win against Livingston.
“All our games have been big,” Neumann said. “Circumstances obviously make the games we have left more important. Central is the next one and I am sure they are thinking the same way.”
The Bulldogs and Jaguars are no strangers to each other. Nederland has won the last five contests between the two schools, but Central holds an 8-7 lead in the series. The Jaguars last beat the Bulldogs back in 2010, 29-26.
“They are athletic and strong,” Neumann added. “Coach Foreman does a great job exploiting their personnel to their strengths. They are difficult to defend because of the matchups they present versus our players. This is not the first time we have had to deal with that.”
Central running back Deshon Moreaux is one player Neumann and his team must contend with. Moreaux has rushed for 444 yards on 44 carries and has 169 receiving yards on 12 receptions with five total touchdowns.
Foreman and the Jaguars, like he said, must wait and see who all starts for the Bulldogs on offense.
Running back Devon Simmons has not played in several weeks because of an ankle sprain, Connor Perkins could also miss the game after being injured last week against Port Arthur Memorial, Lange has been hampered with an ankle injury all year and backup quarterback Blaysin Fernandez recently suffered a concussion.
The Bulldogs have used Sean Nguyen and Ryan LeLeux in place of Simmons. Nguyen had 42 yards on 13 carries last week against Memorial and LeLeux finished with 26 yards on nine totes.
“I know whoever is in will play hard,” Foreman said. “I wish I knew more but I really don’t. We will just wait and see what happens.”
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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe

22-5A FOOTBALL
CENTRAL (2-3) AT NEDERLAND (1-5)
• When: 7 tonight
• Where: Bulldog Stadium
• Radio: KLVI-AM 560
• District records: Central 1-2, Nederland 1-3
• Series record: Central leads 8-7; last meeting, Nederland won 35-20 in 2015