It's been a while since the Auburn Maroons have been in this position. Eleven months, actually.
That's the last time head coach Dave Moskov's squad had to take the field after suffering a loss. The Maroons (1-1) will try to return to their winning ways when the Corcoran Cougars (0-1) visit Holland Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup on Friday.
Auburn's 13-12 loss to West Genesee last Friday was its first loss in eight games - a streak that dated back to the opening round of the playoffs when the Maroons scored 27 fourth-quarter points to top Henninger 47-40 on Oct. 23.
“If you practice sloppy, you play sloppy,” Moskov said, adding that he shouldered the blame for Friday's loss after a soft week in practice. “We sat down on Saturday and said, ‘We didn't really lose the game that night, we lost it during the week.'”
Well, it's a new week and there's a new attitude on the practice field.
The Maroons are geared up for this Friday, determined to prove they still belong among the state's top teams. To do that, they know they can't have another letdown.
But how do you control that?
“We can't change the speed in five days; we can't make them 30 pounds heavier in five days,” Moskov said. “We just have to get out there, put your best product on the field and then move on.”
If the beginning of the week was any indication, consider the Maroons moved.
“The kids have a totally different attitude,” Moskov said, comparing his players to last week at this time. “The few veterans we have understood, ‘Hey we need to pick it up in practice.'”
Moskov has already seen a tremendous bounce back, and he's already seen what he called a “contagious positive energy” buzzing throughout the squad.
“We saw it last year, we saw it in our first game, and we saw West Genesee grab it,” Moskov said. “We got to grab that and use it.”
One player who has all kinds of positive energy is quarterback Chris Gomez, who is in his first year as the No. 1 starter. A junior last season, he went 2-1 filling in for the injured Darnell Murphy last year. In his first two games this season he has completed 61 percent of his passes. In addition, he brings a confident personality into the huddle, which is a key factor with a young offensive line.
On the defensive side, the Maroons will have their work cut out for them trying to contain quarterback Darin Hickson. The senior struggled in the Cougars' season opener - he failed to complete a pass in 11 attempts during a 24-12 loss to Liverpool - but the returning starter has a strong arm and a great deal of speed. He'll be complemented by the ground attack of junior Henry Bradley. He had 12 rushes for 145 yards with 99 of them coming on a touchdown run late in the game for the Cougars' only offensive score. Their other touchdown came off an 82-yard punt return.
“I don't know that there's anyone in the section that can match their speed,” Moskov said. “That requires a lot of discipline, because one little mistake and they can make you pay.”
The Maroons made a lot of little mistakes last week - 10 of them in the form of penalties that cost Auburn 78 yards. Of course, the Cougars were flagged 12 times for 100 yards in their last game.
But to Moskov, that's a thing of the past.
“It's more of an emotional situation than anything else right now,” Moskov said. “It's a matter of bouncing back and focusing on this week. That's what we have control over. Let's make sure we bring our best product. That's what we always want to do.”
Auburn's 13-12 loss to West Genesee last Friday was its first loss in eight games - a streak that dated back to the opening round of the playoffs when the Maroons scored 27 fourth-quarter points to top Henninger 47-40 on Oct. 23.
“If you practice sloppy, you play sloppy,” Moskov said, adding that he shouldered the blame for Friday's loss after a soft week in practice. “We sat down on Saturday and said, ‘We didn't really lose the game that night, we lost it during the week.'”
Well, it's a new week and there's a new attitude on the practice field.
The Maroons are geared up for this Friday, determined to prove they still belong among the state's top teams. To do that, they know they can't have another letdown.
But how do you control that?
“We can't change the speed in five days; we can't make them 30 pounds heavier in five days,” Moskov said. “We just have to get out there, put your best product on the field and then move on.”
If the beginning of the week was any indication, consider the Maroons moved.
“The kids have a totally different attitude,” Moskov said, comparing his players to last week at this time. “The few veterans we have understood, ‘Hey we need to pick it up in practice.'”
Moskov has already seen a tremendous bounce back, and he's already seen what he called a “contagious positive energy” buzzing throughout the squad.
“We saw it last year, we saw it in our first game, and we saw West Genesee grab it,” Moskov said. “We got to grab that and use it.”
One player who has all kinds of positive energy is quarterback Chris Gomez, who is in his first year as the No. 1 starter. A junior last season, he went 2-1 filling in for the injured Darnell Murphy last year. In his first two games this season he has completed 61 percent of his passes. In addition, he brings a confident personality into the huddle, which is a key factor with a young offensive line.
On the defensive side, the Maroons will have their work cut out for them trying to contain quarterback Darin Hickson. The senior struggled in the Cougars' season opener - he failed to complete a pass in 11 attempts during a 24-12 loss to Liverpool - but the returning starter has a strong arm and a great deal of speed. He'll be complemented by the ground attack of junior Henry Bradley. He had 12 rushes for 145 yards with 99 of them coming on a touchdown run late in the game for the Cougars' only offensive score. Their other touchdown came off an 82-yard punt return.
“I don't know that there's anyone in the section that can match their speed,” Moskov said. “That requires a lot of discipline, because one little mistake and they can make you pay.”
The Maroons made a lot of little mistakes last week - 10 of them in the form of penalties that cost Auburn 78 yards. Of course, the Cougars were flagged 12 times for 100 yards in their last game.
But to Moskov, that's a thing of the past.
“It's more of an emotional situation than anything else right now,” Moskov said. “It's a matter of bouncing back and focusing on this week. That's what we have control over. Let's make sure we bring our best product. That's what we always want to do.”
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.