Published: September 04, 2008 10:59 am         

Roos seek redemption vs Vikings

Defending home turf, new home turf to be precise, is in the offing for a second consecutive week for the Weatherford Kangaroos, as they host Arlington Lamar Friday. Last week, the Roos looked to be well on their way to a successful defense of home field until the second half, when fortunes changed. And not for the better.

“I can’t complain about our effort [last week],” said Weatherford head coach Kenny Wheaton. “I think we had a great effort, but we didn’t have great concentration. I think that’s the best way to put it.”

Weatherford dominated The Colony in the first half Friday, quickly putting a special teams lapse behind them to control the game on both sides of the ball.

“Mistakes are just part of the game,” Wheaton said, “but you have to overcome them, like we did in the first half.”

The spectre of turning fortunes around this week looks to be a challenge, as the Vikings come to town sporting a 1-0 record at the expense of the Fossil Ridge Panthers, who may still be licking their wounds after giving up six touchdowns to Lamar.

Weatherford’s defenders will try to neutralize a running attack that gained more than 200 yards, with most of that production coming from Vikings’ running back Ja’Terian Douglas, who rushed for 150 yards in 27 attempts. The passing game will also garner attention from the Roos defenders, as Lamar quarterback Michael Poynter connected for more than 190 yards using six different receivers.

“[Lamar] is good and they’ve got some confidence right now,” Wheaton said. “Fossil Ridge was a very good team.”

Still, the Roos know that putting together drives, and stopping them on the other side of the ball, are both things that were accomplished last week, and repeating those performances are well within their grasp. With concentration, execution follows. A point that Wheaton couples with a positive aspect.

“We don’t have to play the perfect game [to win],” he said. “We always trying to attain that, like everybody else. But we definitely have to cut down on the mistakes and play more consistent. The good part is, these are all fixable things.”

As for the players, after seeing a very winable contest slip away from them last week, all signs point to an eagerness to put the loss, and the mistakes, behind them.

“I think [the kids] are anxious, and I know we are as coaches,” Wheaton said, “ready to go out and play better to redeem themselves.”

     

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