Vikes see best chance yet at 'W'

Community and Middle Tennessee Christian have only played each other a few times over the past three seasons but have developed quite a rivalry.

Each school has won its fair share of contests in various sports. Now one will be looking for bragging rights in the first-ever varsity football game between two teams searching for a little respect in a Region 5-A face-off on Friday night in Murfreesboro.

The Cougars (1-6, 0-6 5-A) opened with a win but carry a six-game losing streak and have been outscored 209-37 in region play.

"Both teams have a lot to play for on Friday night," Community coach Johnnie Frost said. "We are both looking for the first region win in our schools' histories and certainly do not want to be known as the last team to achieve that.

"Our kids have had a good week of practice. We have learned a lot about starting and finishing games and we feel like the pieces of the puzzle are in place for this game. We have an injury or two that is going to hurt us and we had some kids miss this week with a stomach virus that has been circulating its way around our student body, but we seem to be getting stronger as the week goes along."

The Vikings (0-7, 0-6) enjoyed their first lead of the season last week and moved the ball between the 20-yard lines almost at will but were unable to punch it in from the red zone on several occasions.

"Getting into the red zone is not our problem," Frost said. "It is getting it across the pylon once we are down there that has been our downfall this season.

"We have had plenty of opportunities to get control or alter the course of games in our favor only to have drives die in easy scoring range. Our team has learned that we have to do the little things right at the goal line to make big things happen on the scoreboard."

Community will count on quarterback Justin Stallings to open up the offense and go to playmakers Josh Green, Zach Haynes and Cody Pierce to control the ball and keep the Cougar offense on the sidelines.

The Viking defense has had some big stops against some of the best teams in the region and will be sorely challenged to keep Middle Tennessee tailback Dillon Wade from running wild against them. He has a season best of 179 yards rushing against Perry County in the opening game of the season.

"We have been real close to putting together a full four quarters of football," Frost said. "The kids recognize that we have the talent to play this game, we just have to focus on each and every play and finish each one.

"We feel that we are ready to play a complete game instead of just a period or two.

"We are primed and ready. It should be fun."