The Lakeside Warriors are back at it this week, putting last week’s game behind them and looking forward to getting back on track in front of their home fans.
The Warriors are now 1-1 on the young season, with a win over Ringgold and a loss to Plain Dealing. This week head coach Joey Pesses and the Warriors will welcome Northwood Lena to Sibley for a match up featuring two, strong ground and pound run games.
“Northwood is a team that comes right at you,” Pesses said. “They get toe-to-toe on the line and everyone blocks one direction like a wall and the back runs right behind them. We have to be physical this week.”
That doesn’t bother Pesses or his Warriors, who like to employ a physical style of their own. The Warriors have scored all of their touchdowns this year on running plays.
Pesses said that the key to victory is for the Warriors to remain true to who they are on both sides of the ball.
“We have to stay on our blocks, run hard, protect the football and fill our gaps responsibly on defense,” Pesses said. “This week our guys responded well to the loss. They, as well as the coaching staff, have been working hard to correct ourselves and the mistakes we made last week.”
Defensively, the key to victory will be halting a Northwood offense known for sustaining long drives.
Pesses said if his opposition could have it their way, they would try to sustain seven minute drives.
“They have good size and a plethora of backs,” Pesses said.”They will run you to death and lull you to sleep.
Just as that happens they may hit you with a big pass play. We have to get some stops and get them off the field. If we’re making mistakes and they sustain long drives it’s going to be hard.”
The Warriors and Gators have both played Ringgold this year. Lakeside outscored the Redskins in that game 36-18, while the Gators fell 26-18.
The Warriors will look to get the home win in Sibley with the game kicking off at 7 p.m.