Warriors playing on pride to end out season

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October 25, 2007

By QUINCY ALEXANDER, CJ Sports Writer The Commonwealth Journal Thu Oct 25, 2007, 11:49 PM EDT

Somerset — You know it’s not your year when you lose even on your off week, but that’s just another week at the office for the Southwestern Warriors.

“It was unfortunate to hear,” said Head Coach Dale Anderson of the South Laurel win over Mercer County that basically eliminated the Warriors from the playoffs. “Most years (the win by South Laurel) wouldn’t have done that, but we dug our own hole. These last two games – we will play for pride.”

Boyle County (2-6) will be hosting the Warriors tonight, and will be looking for revenge as Southwestern beat the Rebels twice last season with the second win stopping Boyle’s streak of district titles at eight.

Boyle County has a scrambling QB, and a very good ground game. They can pass the ball and they do throw the screen effectively, but they want to run.

The Rebels defense is very quick and very good. The linebackers and defensive guards drive their success as one of the best defenses every year.

The Warriors already knew that this game would be about pride and finishing strong, but now there is even more motivation – especially for the defense.

A game preview by Hal Morris, in the Danville Advocate-Messenger said, “Southwestern's defense is good news for Boyle.”

The Warrior D did not take this statement with a grain of salt.

“That was just a slap in the face,” added Coach Anderson. “Yes we have given up a lot of yards and points, but to a lot of good teams. I think our defense is playing real well right now. We just have to put a whole game together – this would be a good time to do that.”

After reading the story by Morris, junior linebacker/tail back Jake King asked the coaching staff for permission to share the information with his defense. After receiving the okay; King quickly told Kodi Brooks, who leads the team with thee interceptions, and the gang what they needed to prove.

Not only did the Danville newspaper take the Warriors lightly, but Boyle County in general did the same by having Southwestern over for the Rebels senior night along with their Hall of Fame class inductions.

“We know what we have to do,” said King of tonight’s match-up, and being taken lightly. “I think we are ready.”

The defense has had its problems, but has played much better of late. The consistent play of Joe Thacker, with his near-10 tackles per game, and the superb leadership of Dan Locke has the Warrior defense excited to take the field against all comers.

Thacker is ranked 20th in the state with 69 tackles this season. Locke is 48th with 59.

Other teams may have their dynamic duos, but this Warriors team has a plethora of productive players that contribute on both sides of the ball.

Regardless, Southwestern, likely, will not make the playoffs for the first time in nearly 12 years.

Two weeks ago saw the offensive line come of age as Austin Roush gained a season-high 136 yards on the ground while Adam White pitched in a Herculean effort of his own by hauling in eight balls for a season-high 170 yards through the air in the Warriors loss to Central Hardin.

White has been the deep threat all season with just under 26 yards per catch, and is number eight in the state according to MaxPreps.com with 733 yards on the season. White is averaging 92 yards per contest.

Of course the guy throwing the ball to White hasn’t been too shabby. Junior starting quarterback T.T. Wooldridge is the number-10 passer in the state with 1,477 yards so far this season.

“I like our offense,” The Southwestern Head Coach pointed out. “I think we get better every week. When we are healthy we are extremely good. We are getting to where we need to be, unfortunately we only have two games to show it.”

Even with the offensive numbers of White and Wooldridge paired with a re-focused defense; the point remains that the Warriors are a 2-6 team that will be sitting at home during the playoffs.

This team will not be hanging up the pads quietly.

“We are going to make these two games our playoff games,” added Coach Anderson. “We want to finish high for the seniors, and for the young kids – we want a positive start for next year. There are a lot of positives.”

These next two games, starting with Boyle, will be an opportunity to prove that the win over Dunbar was not a fluke and that the loss to Central Hardin was an aberration – pride will have to be earned as it is not over till it’s over.

The Warriors travel to face the Rebels in Boyle County tonight with kick off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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