RED SPRINGS — After two loses, including a heart breaker in overtime in the first round of the state playoffs, last year to South Columbus, Red Springs does not have revenge on its mind, but a focus on bettering itself.
After a loss on the final play last week, the Red Devils have dropped three of their first four Three Rivers Conference games and travel to conference-leading South Columbus on Friday. Penalties and ill-advised turnovers at crucial points in the three losses have led to the results and looking to clean those up is top priority this week for Red Springs.
“It’s not so much as revenge right now, it’s just us making ourselves better,” Cook said, “being more disciplined mentally and emotionally.
“Right now it’s on us not trying to beat us once again.”
South Columbus (6-2, 4-0 TRC) won 51-32 last year in the regular season and then 35-29 in a nail-biting overtime game in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs.
The game is the start of the final three-game stretch to close out the season and the Red Devils (4-4, 1-3 TRC) know what a win would do to build momentum toward a possible playoff berth.
“The main thing we have to focus on is the opportunity to still be in the playoffs,” Cook said. “Even though we don’t have a chance to win the conference, we still have a chance to make the playoffs and make something really happen in the playoffs.”
As far as looking to cut out the unsportsmanlike penalties that have been thrown at bad spots on his team, Cook said the previously set consequences for profanity in practice have been toughened.
“There’s always been repercussions before, I’ve just had to make them a little more severe to get the idea that we can’t do that to hurt ourselves,” he said. “Hopefully we can ingrain that into them this week that they can take their emotions under control and make those penalties that can kill us.”
When it comes to facing off against the Stallions, it’s the same offense once again that the Red Devils will line up against at tailback in the Wing-T that has caused them trouble in the past.
“Offensively, it’s the same thing we’ve been worried about for three years and that’s Dennis Leggett,” Cook said. “With any team running the Wing-T, there’s always going to be issues preparing for them. It’s an offense that you don’t see every week and it’s something they do on a regular basis. It’s going to come down to us being disciplined on defense as far as assignments and being real physical with them.”
East Columbus at Fairmont
Fairmont (5-3, 4-0 TRC) closes out its home schedule and looks to stay atop the TRC standing against East Columbus. Fairmont used a balanced offensive attack in the second half of its win over Red Springs last week led by Julius Caulder at quarterback with 200 yards passing and 73 rushing. This game starts a tough ending to the Golden Tornadoes’ schedule with games at St. Pauls and South Columbus after Friday night.
St. Pauls at West Columbus
After dropping a one-point game in overtime to South Columbus, St. Pauls (5-3, 3-1 TRC) will look to get back on the track for the conference championship at West Columbus. Despite Noah Wheeler’s all-around game against the Stallions, it was his turnovers that loomed large in the defeat. The game against the winless Vikings will send the Bulldogs into a game at home against Fairmont that could carry a lot of weight as far as the conference championship.
Purnell Swett at Hoke
Both Purnell Swett (3-5, 0-2 SEC) and Hoke come into Friday night still looking for their first Southeastern Conference wins of the season. Last season, the Rams pulled out a 13-8 win in its only conference win of the season. Running back Al’Drique Thompson is leading the rushing attack for Purnell Swett and is coming off a two-touchdown performance last week against Pinecrest.
Lumberton at Scotland
Lumberton (2-6, 0-2 SEC) travels to Laurinburg to take on the third-ranked team in the state in Scotland with its highly-touted backfield of Zamir White and Syheim McQueen. Scotland handed the Pirates a 48-3 loss last season. Quarterback Braylan Grice had two rushing touchdowns in his last outing at Richmond.
South Robeson at Whiteville
Fresh off getting its first win of the season, South Robeson (1-7, 1-3 TRC) travels to Whiteville. Whiteville blanked South Robeson last season 49-0. Running back Darrius Brown had two touchdown in the first half last Friday for the Mustangs.
