Center and Schlagle enter Friday’s DM Law Metro Matchup of the Week on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The host Yellowjackets are coming off a 34-0 loss to St. Joseph Lafayette to open the season. Dating back to last season, the shutout was Center’s sixth time being blanked in their last nine games.
On the other hand, the Stallions are playing game number one as the season kicks off this week in Kansas.
There are only so many preseason practices, scrimmages and jamborees a team like Schlagle can learn from. Until the lights come on, head coach Ceryn Macon can only wonder who will show up and show out against Center.
Expectations are high, Macon said. The Stallions won three games one year ago, a two-game improvement from 2022.
“I’m looking for execution of the offense, the basics proper technique from the offensive line, ball security, and overall team discipline,” he said.
The focus at practice was on execution, Macon said. He preached the same message to his team all week.
“Execution on all phases, make big plays and stay focused the entire game,” he said.
Although the Stallions have a core group of returning players who have played varsity minutes as starters or rotational players, Schlagle, much like Center, has a young roster, according to Macon.
But “they are a week ahead of us,” he said.
“They are relatively a young team as are we,” Macon said. “They had a rough start to the season.”
Rough would be an understatement. Center, led by second-year head coach Robin Powell-Deppe, were blanked in Week 1 on the Missouri side. But youth is no excuse, Powell-Deppe said.
“We are a young team with tons of potential,” he said.
As with most coaches, the recurring theme this week has been on the Yellowjackets playing with discipline, focus and maximum effort at all times, Powell-Deppe said.
Last season, Center lost 9 of 10 games and was shut out five times. The only win came via forfeit. Against Schlagle, Center will face an “athletic team that can make big plays and will take big shots,” Powell-Deppe said.
“Our keys to victory are being the more physical and disciplined team in all three phases of the game,” he said.
