Wolverines return from bye week to begin district play at home against Warner
Although missing playing the traditional football game under the Friday night lights, Vian Wolverines football coach Gary Willis believed last week’s bye week was much needed.
Although missing playing the traditional football game under the Friday night lights, Vian Wolverines football coach Gary Willis believed last week’s bye week was much needed.
“For the team, it was good to have the bye,” Willis said. “We had a very tough, maybe the toughest, non-district schedule in the state. It was a good time for a break,and we knew it would be. Now sitting at home on a Friday night, you miss being out on the field and competing. Overall, it was a good time for us (to have a bye).”
The Wolverines (1-2) suffered rough outings in the zero week opener at Washington and two weeks ago on the road against Lincoln Christian, which sandwiched the home opener victory over Eufaula. Willis said the record may not show it, but those three games were the best things that happened for the Wolverines to prep them for the District 2A-5 season.
“We’ve talked to our boys,” Willis said. “Not to take anything away from the teams in our district. When you play Lincoln Christian, Washington and Eufaula, it sets you up for the speed of the district. There’s going to be good teams in our district, we’re not going to see anybody (like Lincoln Christian, Washington and Eufaula). Washington is the defending (Class 2A) state champ, looking to win it again. Lincoln Christian played in the (Class) 3A state championship last year. Eufaula is a deep playoff team every year. As far as seeing athletes, we’ve seen them. We just need to maintain that speed that we’ve learned to play at these last three weeks (against Washington, Eufaula and Lincoln Christian). If we maintain the speed that we’ve learned to play at and compete at (in the first three games), we’ll be all right. Even through two of those games didn’t go the way we wanted, you learn to play at that speed, It should benefit us tremendously (in district play).”
The District 2A-5 opener is at 7 tonight against the Warner Eagles at St. John Stadium.
The Eagles (1-2) won their season opener 61-8 over Savanna, but have lost two straight — losing a defensive battle 14-0 to Central two weeks ago, then losing 30-22 to Chouteau-Mazie last week. However, Willis said they are still a formidable team.
“It’s a good program,” Willis said. “They’re a well-coached team. They have a quarterback who’s very talented. Vian and Warner go way back. We know they’ll be ready to play, and we’re ready to go, too.”
