Elverado-Trico at Fairfield:
Fairfield
one of the biggest teams in the Black Diamond size-wise, will be taking
on the smallest to start the football season as Elverado-Trico makes
the long road trip Friday night.
“It’s a long travel and it is hard
to win there, for any team,” said Elverado-Trico coach Duffy Sanders.
“It will be an uphill battle for us becuase they are so big on the
line. We just have to try and outlast them and contain their stud
runningback.”
Last season, Fairfield rolled up 42 points in the
first half, while keeping the Falcon offense out of the end zone for
the entire game enroute to a 55-0 win.
The Falcons fumbled the ball
six times and lost four of them, while also throwing two interceptions
in the contest. The team totaled 155 yards running the football against
the Mules.
Sparta at Columbia:
Sparta
is looking to rebound from an 1-8 season and the opening week matchup
doesn’t do the Bulldogs any favors as they travel to take on last
year’s state semifinalist Columbia Friday night.
“Columbia is a
perinneal playoff power,” said Sparta coach Phil Watson. “Columbia lost
a lot of skill from last season, but they have the numbers to just
reload and go out and win some more. I expect Columbia to look to run
the ball against us and control the clock. We have to slow down their
offense and play mistake free football.”
Last year, the Bulldogs
held their own against Columbia and even led for four minutes in the
first quarter during their 43-22 loss Friday night in nonconference
football action.
Blake Shelton finished the game with 15 pass
completions for 208 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to
lead the Sparta offense. Preston Nance led the Bulldogs rushing attack
with 48 yards on 11 carries.
Chester at Carlyle:
Chester
wants to carry over the momentum of making the playoffs last season as
they travlel to take on Carlyle Friday night. The two teams did not
play last year. Chester’s record last season was 5-5, while Carlyle was
1-8.
“Carlyle has a new coach this season and he will bring some old
school discipline and toughness to the program,” said Chester coach
Bryan Lee. “Carlyle has hard nosed kids, like us that will be hungry
and fired up in week one. We need to come ready to play and set the
tone early.”
