Sports - October 2003

Wolves visit the Red Devils

Lincolnton looks to overcome rain, sickness and injuries

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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The Lincolnton Wolves will have some variables working against them as they are matched against the Newton-Conover Red Devils.

Head coach Scott Cloninger believes that the game may be affected in a major way by the weather forecast.

“A concern for us is the weather, it may be some rain so we’re going to have to protect the football and cut down on turnovers. Anytime it rains you have to take special care of the football. You have to understand with wet conditions bad things can happen to you,” he said.

OFFENSIVELY

Although the Wolves throttled Bunker Hill last week 50-13, one area they struggled in was passing the football as they gained zero yards in the air. Cloninger insists that that area has to improve.

“We’re going to have to get back and establish a passing game. We were off last game and to win football games you can’t just run the football or pass the ball. You have to mix it up a little bit and that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.

In the past the Wolves have struggled when it comes to blocking the Red Devils. Cloninger wants to reverse that trend.

“One thing is we have block better than we have in past games versus Newton Conover. They bring people off the edge so we have to be able to block those people on the outside,” he said.

DEFENSIVELY

Newton-Conover will have the services of Quarterback Matt Wilson, who’s one of the Red Devils leaders, in the contest with the Wolves. Cloninger believes he will be the key player they must contain.

“Anytime you play an option football team you must play assignment football. The quarterback Wilson does a good job running it. He didn’t play against West Lincoln because he had a concussion the week before. He’ll be back so we have to be able to contain him,” he said.

The Red Devils like to put the ball in the air and that’s a concern of Cloninger.

“They have a good passing attack. We need to be able to put pressure on Wilson and play pass defense like we did in the second half versus Bunker Hill,” he said.

Cloninger is looking for the defensive front to step up and perform.

“Alex Mullen, Eric Wilson, Mauricio Sing, Roger Rojas and Abner Rangel will all need to have a good night. I believe you win the football game on the line of scrimmage so the defensive front is a big issue against this option team,” he said.

X-FACTOR

One of the factors the Wolves will have working against them is sickness and injuries. Cloninger believes a big key for his team is how they will respond in adversity.

“This week it’s how we are going to rebound. We’ve had a bad week of sickness and injuries. We’ve had four starters that have missed a couple of days of practice – all of them being major players and anytime that happens it throws your rhythm and timing off,” he said.

Due to the four players being unable to participate in practice at various times this past week Cloninger said their playing time will be reduced.

“It’s a major concern for us that they’ve lost the practice time and being sick they couldn’t do anything so they’re going to be a little bit out of shape. They will not be able to play as much as they have in the past. The main concern is how they will play and the people that have to spell them perform,” he said.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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