No one likes to talk about it. But they know it.
The players know it. The coaches know it. The fans know it.
Skaneateles' football game Friday night is a must-win for the Lakers (3-2) to keep their postseason hopes alive. Of course, the same thing applies for Homer (3-2).
Skaneateles coach John King isn't afraid to talk about it, though.
“Whoever wins this game is going to make sectionals,” he said. “The winner gets that fourth spot.”
“We've (talked about it) only because we want to address it. The kids are well aware of it. They know it's a must-win to get into sectionals and that was our goal for the season.”
But with the season on the line, King isn't worried about how his team will respond.
“I told them you just got to relax and play your game and try not to get too uptight about it.”
Of course that's always easier said than done.
Skaneateles was riding a three-game winning streak - during which the Lakers averaged nearly 34 points a game - until a 40-19 loss at the hands of Marcellus Friday night. It was the fewest points the Lakers had scored all season, and the largest margin of defeat in all five games.
Part of the offensive struggle was the absence of Matt Wood. He ran for 97 yards - his lowest game total of the season - but also only played in the first half. He injured his hip flexor during the first game of the season, and the injury nagged him during the game and the Lakers decided to play it safe.
King said his starting tailback, who has run for 882 yards this season, will be in the lineup Friday night.
That will be a key factor, since both teams have a grind-it-out-on-the-ground mentality.
“Homer is a lot like us in a sense,” King said of their rushing reliability. “They are a big physical football team and they have the ability to do it. They don't do a lot of different things, but what they do they do very well. We expect a tough battle.”
Homer has certainly been battling of late.
The Trojans lost their first two games of the season and are currently riding a three-game win streak of their own. But that doesn't scare King.
“They probably think (momentum will be a factor),” he said. “(Our guys) know what's at stake. I told them they need to come out right off the bat and step up in the first play and let them know it's our game and play at our pace and get pumped up.”
As for the Lakers' winning streak coming to an end, that's just another thing King isn't worried about.
“We can't dwell on it,” King said. “It bugged them enough to make them work hard.
“We've had a good week in practice and the kids know what's at stake. They're fired up and ready to go.”
Skaneateles' football game Friday night is a must-win for the Lakers (3-2) to keep their postseason hopes alive. Of course, the same thing applies for Homer (3-2).
Skaneateles coach John King isn't afraid to talk about it, though.
“Whoever wins this game is going to make sectionals,” he said. “The winner gets that fourth spot.”
“We've (talked about it) only because we want to address it. The kids are well aware of it. They know it's a must-win to get into sectionals and that was our goal for the season.”
But with the season on the line, King isn't worried about how his team will respond.
“I told them you just got to relax and play your game and try not to get too uptight about it.”
Of course that's always easier said than done.
Skaneateles was riding a three-game winning streak - during which the Lakers averaged nearly 34 points a game - until a 40-19 loss at the hands of Marcellus Friday night. It was the fewest points the Lakers had scored all season, and the largest margin of defeat in all five games.
Part of the offensive struggle was the absence of Matt Wood. He ran for 97 yards - his lowest game total of the season - but also only played in the first half. He injured his hip flexor during the first game of the season, and the injury nagged him during the game and the Lakers decided to play it safe.
King said his starting tailback, who has run for 882 yards this season, will be in the lineup Friday night.
That will be a key factor, since both teams have a grind-it-out-on-the-ground mentality.
“Homer is a lot like us in a sense,” King said of their rushing reliability. “They are a big physical football team and they have the ability to do it. They don't do a lot of different things, but what they do they do very well. We expect a tough battle.”
Homer has certainly been battling of late.
The Trojans lost their first two games of the season and are currently riding a three-game win streak of their own. But that doesn't scare King.
“They probably think (momentum will be a factor),” he said. “(Our guys) know what's at stake. I told them they need to come out right off the bat and step up in the first play and let them know it's our game and play at our pace and get pumped up.”
As for the Lakers' winning streak coming to an end, that's just another thing King isn't worried about.
“We can't dwell on it,” King said. “It bugged them enough to make them work hard.
“We've had a good week in practice and the kids know what's at stake. They're fired up and ready to go.”
The Citizens' Say
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