Sports
Game Preview: Wahama, Southern Ready For Battle To Start Conference Play
By: Kelsi Steele
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Week 3 of high school football consists of good matchups all over southeast Ohio. But for the teams in the TVC-Hocking, Week 3 serves as testing ground for the season to come.
The Southern Tornadoes enter Friday’s matchup against Wahama with a 1-1 record, and they have yet to compete in TVC-Hocking play.
The Tornadoes look to capture their first conference win against the always-competitive White Falcons (1-1) squad.
“[Southern is] coming off of a big year themselves,” Wahama head coach Dave Barr said. “It’s a big game for both of us and a big test for both of us to see where we are at.”
Head coach Kyle Wickline of Southern is on the same page as Barr, agreeing that the matchup developed the feel of a rivalry over the last few years.
“It’s huge for us after losing last week, to get back out there in the winning game,” Wickline said. “We feel like for us to compete in the TVC we have to be able to compete with them and beat them. The kids are fired up and excited about it. I hope we get back to our winning ways.”
If there is a common thread between Southern and Wahama, it’s the teams’ inexperience. Both squads took a heavy hit with graduation after the 2013 season.
“We were pretty inexperienced when season began, we are looking to continue to improve every week and fine tune what we already have,” Barr said. “The thing for us is to not be satisfied, come out every week and continue to improve technique and have a good worth ethic.”
Wickline feels the inexperience in his roster as well, but he is not letting it deter his goals for the 2014 season.
“We lost a lot of experience in important spots, especially,” Wickline said. “Our coaches are coaching them up to get them to where they need to be. We need to continue to try to work and gain experience.”
Wickline emphasized the importance of executing on the offensive side as a key for the Tornadoes, and feels that the game will be won by the team that wins in the trenches.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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