In what is effectively the district championship of the 2019 season, the football team (7-2 overall, 6-1 district), has an away matchup at Frisco (8-1, 6-1) tonight at 7p.m.
Junior linebacker Blake Slaughter believes the team still has things to fix before going against Frisco tonight, even after a comforting win over Denison last week.
“Consistency is something we need to correct,” Slaughter said. “The offense and defense both need to be consistent this game in order to be successful.”
After starting quarterback Ralph Rucker injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter, sophomore Noah Naidoo had to step in for the injured signal caller. He secured the win in overtime by throwing a touchdown to junior Bo Allen in the corner of the endzone.
Naidoo will start at quarterback tonight.
Junior wide receiver Chief Collins talked about his confidence in Naidoo, regardless of which position he is playing.
“I have trust in both quarterbacks and all of my teammates,” Collins said. “Coach Ford talks about having a next man up mentality which means always be ready and prepared for anything and I think Noah did and does a great job of that. So to answer your question, yes I had confidence in Noah stepping in.”
Defensively, Slaughter said the game plan for stopping Frisco’s high-powered offense is putting them in “long down” situations.
“We’ve installed a game-plan to fit their offense and have been practicing it all week,” Slaughter said. “It’s important on defense that we have good eye discipline this week and put them in long down situations.”
Assistant coach Dillon O’Bryant said the team reviewed film on Frisco offensively and defensively.
“Offensively they want to run the ball, they will align in a series of different formations and run the same six or seven plays,” O’Bryant said. “Defensively they are fast and run to the ball exceptionally well.”
Collins showed his confidence in the team and believes they can make it to state if they play to their full ability.
“We can make it to state,” Collins said. “If we do what we do and play like ourselves to the best capability, I would put us over any other team.”
