LAPEL — Bulldogs head coach Nate Andrews doesn’t mince words when it comes to his team’s opponent in tonight’s second-round football sectional contest.
“Clinton Central is good. From the very beginning I thought they were the best team in our sectional,” said Andrews. “Not to take away from any of the other teams in our sectional, but I think that because they’re very physical. They’ve got a bunch of tough kids, they’re fast and they’re coached well. It’s a pretty daunting task, but I think our kids are prepared to play well.”
Senior lineman T.J. Swain doesn’t mince words when talking of how expectations for the team have risen in his four years wearing the Bulldogs’ black and gold.
“When I was a freshman, things were mediocre,” said Swain. “The talk was ‘Let’s get in the sectional (title game).’ Now the talk is ‘Let’s win a crown. let’s go to regional, let’s go farther.’ We want our journey to be a good one.”
The Bulldogs’ next opportunity toward winning another crown comes tonight at 7 p.m. as the Bulldogs host another pack of Bulldogs.
The Clinton Central Bulldogs will bring a 6-4 record to Lapel from Michigantown. This season, Clinton Central has averaged just under 33 points per game on offense while giving up 15.2 defensively. Clinton Central has won three of its last four games. In their opening-round win over Tri-Central, the Bulldogs decimated the Trojans 66-7. It was the sixth time that Tri-Central was held to less than 10 points.
The Lapel Bulldogs will take to the field at the Boneyard with a record of 7-3 and a four-game winning streak. Lapel has scored 28.6 points per game while giving up 25.8 to its opposition. Lapel has eclipsed the 50-point mark twice in its last four outings.
“We’ve got to play a lot faster and a lot more physical,” said senior lineman T.J. Swain. “Their line is very fast and physical. They’re not the biggest line we’ve faced, but they’re definitely the most physical.”
A week ago the Bulldogs’ bid to win a second-straight sectional title appeared to be headed off the tracks at Eastern Hancock. It took a 1-yard scoring plunge by senior Sam Foust in the third quarter and then the Bulldogs’ defense made that score stand up through the final quarter of play.
“The focus this week has been on us and being prepared. I don’t know how prepared we were mentally for (Eastern Hancock) and we want to avoid that this time,” said Andrews. “We want to be sure that it’s about one at a time and all those cliches that make sense. We have to prepare with a sense of urgency and like we’re going to have to play our best game.”
“We have to have our best week of practice,” said quarterback Foust after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m expecting a great crowd. They’ve supported us all year.”
Clinton Central makes the most of its overall team-speed but is just as capable when it comes to running the ball between the tackles.
“They’re pretty good at running plays to the outside because they’ve got really good speed,” said Andrews. “But as soon as you start taking that away they’ll rip you inside with their trap and counter plays. They’re very balanced offensively and their defense is the best we’ve seen. They’re solid in all phases of the game.
“We have to prepare for the speed and physicality of the game that will be there from the first play to the end of the game.”
The Lapel Bulldogs will enjoy the home field advantage but making that a true advantage for them is contingent upon a few things.
The weather forecast of highs in the 60s and rain aside, a home field advantage is dependant on the Bulldogs on the field as well as the fans in the stands.
“I think home field will be a factor, we just have to be able to play hard here at home,” said Swain.
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