Albany to open against C-City
The Lion football team was put to the test last Thursday during a scrimmage in Anson, with the varsity’s first team coming up short against the Tigers.
The varsity will open the regular season at home Friday, hosting the Colorado City Wolves at Robert Nail Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The visitors are moving up to Class 3A Div. II this year and typically provide a competitive start to the season.
“Colorado City always has a really good team that plays well,” head coach Denney Faith said. “They run the option and have a good quarterback, along with being very aggressive on defense.”
The coach said the Lions will need to come out strong on Friday.
“We came out very slow in the Anson scrimmage, and we can’t do that again this week,” he said. “We are going to have to start well and not play catch-up.”
Faith added that he is happy that the Lions will open with the level of competition that they will face this week.
“This will be a game that we can use as a measuring stick to determine where we are as a team and what we still need to work on,” he said.
The JV Lions will open their schedule in Colorado City today starting at 6:00 p.m.
Scrimmage Details
The Lions failed to score in their first offensive set, while allowing Anson two tallies. When the second squad took the field for the second set, they turned the score around, scoring twice and keeping Anson out of the end zone.
The varsity also played a “live” quarter, with Anson scoring two touchdowns to Albany’s one.
“It was just a scrimmage and our goal going in was to evaluate personnel and not to try to outscore them,” Faith said. “We definitely saw things that will have to be improved.”
The coach said that the most glaring problem he saw was the lack of intensity.
“Anson came out with a lot of emotion and we didn’t,” he said. “We have got to learn to match and exceed the intensity of our opponents.”
Faith said that quite a few of the players haven’t played at the varsity level before.
“There is a learning curve about the emotional side of the game and how important it can be,” he said.
Faith added that he and the coaching staff would be working to increase the intensity level of practices to prepare for games.
The coach said that he was pleased with how the backs ran the ball, adding that the offensive line played hard too.
“We have got to improve our passing game by protecting the quarterback more,” the coach said. “Our receivers have got to find a way to get open, and the quarterback has to get the ball to them. It’s not any one of those components, but all three together at the same time.”
Faith said that the defense struggled as well.
“Again, the intensity just wasn’t there,” he said. “They took it to us early before we decided to fight back. We didn’t tackle well, and we have got to be more physical.”
The coach said the Lions will continue to work on conditioning.
“It was a long, hot scrimmage and the kids got tired,” Faith said. “But we will keep working on that and playing more will also help get us in shape. I’m glad we are starting the season without any injuries.”
He added that the staff is still evaluating players and where each should play.
“We have five tough pre-district games ahead of us, and we will use them to make us better and find the right combination of players.”
He commended the team for the effort they have shown in preparing for the season.
“They want to work hard and get better, so I feel very positive about what is ahead,” Faith said.
The Lions will be hunting for their 11th straight district championship, playing this season in the realigned District 7-2A Div. II which includes Baird, Roscoe, Cross Plains, Haskell, and Hamlin. Roby is also technically in the district this year but will not play a varsity schedule due to a lack of numbers.
JV Results
The JV Lions outscored Anson 3-0 during their scrimmage.
“The guys are showing a lot of promise,” coach Rod Britting said. “It’s a good mix of players between the freshmen and sophomores, making up a very solid group.”
The coach said that the squad still needs time to improve their defense and learn offensive plays.
