SIBLEY – The Lakeside Warriors haven’t given up on the 2015 season, despite a winless record to this point.
Head coach Joey Pesses said the Warriors are still bringing it every day at practice. That’s an encouraging sign ahead of this week’s challenging matchup with Jonesboro-Hodge.
“They’re a very athletic team,” Pesses said. “A very aggressive team. They run the ball well, but they spread you out too to keep you from stacking the box. They can hit you on some passes.”
Lakeside’s biggest enemy this season on offense has been themselves. Missed assignments, penalties and turnovers have plagued the Warrior offense week after week, but Pesses believes the Warriors are close to solving their issues.
“We have to improve a lot from last week,” Pesses said. “We have to execute our blocks this week. Blocking isn’t just hitting someone and letting them go. Staying on our man and leverage, that’s the key this week because those guys are huge.”
The Lakeside defense has an even deeper challenge in front of them. Jonesboro-Hodge has played a brutal schedule to this point, with games in recent weeks against Ruston, Many and Red River High School.
The Tigers haven’t found the end zone much in recent weeks, but Pesses warns their offense is much better than stats will show, saying his defense has a few keys to success this week.
“Everyone has to respect their assignments and be where they’re supposed to be,” Pesses said. “People start trying to do more than they’re supposed to do instead of playing within the defensive scheme. They have to let us as coaches make the adjustment instead of taking it on themselves.”
The Warriors and Tigers will get underway in Jonesboro on Friday at 7 p.m.