FOOTBALL CAPSULES: Eastern Wayne at New Bern

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 29, 2016 10:01 AM

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EASTERN WAYNE (3-2, 1-0 ECC)

AT NEW BERN (1-4, 1-0)

Last time out: Eastern Wayne d. South Central 25-24; New Bern d. Southern Wayne 50-0.

Last meeting: 2015, New Bern won 34-7

Notable: New Bern has won the last 15 meetings in the series and holds a 16-5 advantage overall.

What are your thoughts about heading down to New Bern this week? "New Bern's opponents before they even got their first win were tough opponents, so I try to tell our guys not to look at that 1-4 record," Warriors head coach Leander Oates said. "We've got to be ready to go out and play some hard-nosed football, and expect New Bern to come out do what they've done the past two years."

When you viewed the game film from South Central, what did the team do well and what did you see that might have been an emphasis for practice this week? "Defensively, we definitely stepped up. When a team comes into your home, then goes for two to win the game, I think that speaks volumes for to respond with their backs against the wall. One of the areas that we worked on is definitely special teams. We have to take pride in that and that special teams, in some teams' cases, are something you need to take advantage of (in games). We've given up special teams points in back-to-back games and we just can't allow that. Then, in other areas, we've been getting more reps and trying to polish up things especially going against this New Bern defense."

Why does the team continue to struggle offensively? "I've got to stick to my personnel. I've been trying to balance our personnel, but now I'm going to look at it to where I'm challenging the guys that I have in there to be ready. I want to find that guy, see who can -- especially in that red zone area -- want to get the ball in the end zone more. (Finding consistency) is partially correct. For the main part is finding that play that can help us move the ball and not get put in big third-down situations. For the most part, we are calling the right plays, but we always kill ourselves with penalties. That comes from not being discplined. That's the key -- not us killing ourselves."

How do you feel like you match up against New Bern? "It's one of those (games) about who is going to have heart. We can't go down there, fold to the big atmosphere. They come into the game with bigger numbers. It's only 11 men on the field. If we play our game, use our ability, use our athleticism, I think we will do fine. We've got to have that heart to finish (the game), not give in when we're down or when we're up."