Anticipation builds for Wolves, Rebels

Lincoln Co. is poised for one of the biggest football games in the last five years. On Friday, the West Lincoln Rebels will visit Lincolton’s Memorial Stadium at Von Ray Harris Field to take on the Lincolnton Wolves.
With so many people expected, Wolves’ head coach Scott Cloninger believes fans should purchase their tickets in advance. Tickets for the game are available at Byrd’s Sundries, Lincoln Athletics and at Lincolnton High School.

Offense
So what does Lincolnton need to do on offense to beat the unblemished Rebels according to Cloninger? “We have to score some points. I think all of us are going to have to step up and play a better game,” he said.
An ongoing and reoccurring theme for the Wolves has been inconsistency. Cloninger believes that inconsistency falls on every player. “I can’t point that finger at any one person. It’s a team effort and for us to win the game we’re going to have to play as a team.”
To protect their home field, Lincolnton will need to take care of the football and eliminate sloppy play. “We have to cut down on mistakes. Mental and physical mistakes need to be reduced,” Cloninger said.

Defense
One of West Lincoln’s calling card on offense is their ability to move the football in the air and on the ground; a point not missed by Cloninger. “They’re pretty well-balanced. They can run it or throw it. What we’re hoping we can do is slow them down. What we’re going to try to do is take away their best plays. If we can do that, then we feel like we can slow them,” he said.
The Rebels’ backfield is a point of emphasis for the Wolves on defense. Rebels’ running back Gene Arp has rushed for over 350 yards in his last three contests. Paul Chambers has also had a huge impact running the ball.
Cloninger recognizes their skill but is more concerned about a player that has been nursing a sprained ankle in senior tailback Will Tallent.
“They’re both hard-nosed young men who enjoy running the football. There’s a Tallent kid who’s been injured who is just as good as them in my opinion, so they have a triple threat at the running back,” he said.
Another key for the home team will be running a ball-control type of offense. “We’re just going to have to contain them and be able to control the ball a little bit to be able to offset their offense,” Cloninger said.

X-Factor
Cloninger is already excited about the rivalry game and hopes his players feel the same way. “Whenever you come out Friday night and the hair on the back of your neck doesn’t stand up as a player or a coach, then you don’t deserve to be there—when the lights come on,” he said.
The coach likens Friday night’s matchup to a boxing match believing whoever can maintain their composure and stick with the game plan will be victorious. “I feel like it’s going to be a title fight. There are going to be people that take some blows and you’re going to stagger a little bit, but you’re going to have to stay on your feet. You’re going to have to understand that when you get knocked down you’re going to have to get right back up,” Cloninger said.
“It’s going to be a tough football game and you better be prepared for the good and bad. I feel that whoever handles that the best will come out on top,” he added.

West Lincoln Rebels
Life is good for the West Lincoln Rebels sitting on top of the Midwest 2A mountaintop with a perfect 4-0 record. But a win over their biggest rival the Lincolnton Wolves would make life even better.

Offense
Rebels’ head coach Butch Parker believes a big key in Friday’s game will be running the football effectively.
“We have to control the ball. We have to do what we do best and that’s run the football,” he said.
Parker speaks very highly of the Wolves’ defense believing they don’t struggle in many areas.
“They have so few weaknesses defensively that we have to make some things work that will give us the best chance to score some points,” he said.
Some characteristics stick out to Parker when watching film.
“They are quick to the ball, aggressive to the ball and they present two outstanding defensive ends (Kyle Snyder and Wesley Thompson) and their linebackers can just run so well.”
The Rebels will receive a boost in leadership and on the field with Will Tallent expected to return from a sprained ankle. He is believed to be at 85 percent entering Friday’s game. The combination of Tallent and Gene Arp with the hard running of Paul ‘the Bruiser’ Chambers will present the Lincolnton defense with a stiff challenge.

Defense
Parker knows that the big play has hurt West Lincoln in the past. This season,he’s hoping to stop such players as junior QB Zack Gibson and the Friday trio (Dustin, Lance and Darrell) at running back.
“The first thing we got to do is stop the big play. That’s a Lincolnton tradition and we have to stop it. It starts with Gibson— he’s a very talented quarterback, then the Friday family (everyone of them can run). We have to stop the vaunted Lincolnton sweep,” he said.
Is Parker surprised with his offense’s play, led by sophomore quarterback Taylor Woodie and the yards they’ve been able to muster on the ground?
“We’re very pleased with what they’ve done. Surprised— no, because once again we returned that many skill people and we thought they were capable of that. That’s all immaterial against Lincolnton because it’s a Midwest Conference game and all of those numbers are pretty well a moot point right now.”
X-Factor
A significant factor for the Rebels will be whether or not they’ll be able to overcome the mental block they seem to have when it comes to facing Lincolnton.
“It’s the mental and emotional factor. We’re treating it as a huge game, it’s got every imaginable level of excitement. Lincolnton is our biggest rival, it’s the first chance to go 5-0 in a long time, it’s the first conference game and a win there would insure us a playoff berth. It’s going to have a great big crowd,” Parker said.
“It’s a big, big football game. Now if they won’t to call it routine or not, that’s up to them. I choose not to,” Parker added.
The coach believes that whichever team can maintain their discipline and game plan the best will win.
“When it reaches a crescendo then it comes down to execution. Whoever can execute outside the realm of the emotional aspect, I feel will win the game.”
by John Mark Brooks