Red Raiders' foe presents unknown
COAL TOWNSHIP - There are better ways to open the season, but at least Lourdes will be in familiar surroundings at Leo A. Mulhall Stadium.
Mount Zion Baptist School, a small, private school from Baltimore, is visiting on Saturday, and for new Red Raiders' coach Corey Houser, that's the only thing that's known.
There isn't much information out there on the Saints.
In 2008, they played at Line Mountain and came out on the short end of a 49-6 decision. But, that was Mount Zion's first year of football, and only its third game ever. How far it's come since then is anybody's guess.
Last year, it put together a 1-7 record, the lone victory 26-0 over Carson Long Military School, a team Lourdes defeated 55-0.
"I know nothing about them," Houser said Monday night. "Gish (former Lourdes coach Mike Klembara) called me today and told me they were going to send me a tape that should get here later in the week."
Until the Raiders knew more, however, Houser was content to work on a game plan that emphasized what Lourdes does well and go at Mount Zion with its best.
"You take your team and do what you do best," Houser said. "You run your stuff, and hope you do it well, and you hope you stop what they do."
Houser said the Raiders were very happy with the way scrimmages with Montgomery and Carson Long went, ending the first and second weeks of camp, respectively.
He said new quarterback Zach Chesney, a junior who was a running back up until this season, has progressed as a passer, and the offense in general proved it's capable of moving the ball on the ground.
"After the scrimmages, we were happy," Houser said. "We found out we can run the football, and our league is a running type of league.
"And we threw the ball a little bit to see if we could get better with that, and there was progress there."
Houser also impressed upon his youthful team that the week leading up to the regular season opener was the time to work out the bugs that were obvious in the scrimmages.
"I told them that now it starts for real," Houser said. "We can't be sloppy anymore.
"This week, everything counts."
Houser said his team is healthy for the opener.
To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.
Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.
Copyright ©2012 The News Item | 707 N. Rock St. | Shamokin, PA 17872 | (570) 644-6397
Privacy Policy | Opinion Posting Policy | About our ads | Questions or comments? Contact Us
