DERRELL McCALEB OF LAKESIDE (TOP) AND JOHN NAMEY OF JEFFERSON are two of the headliners for the annual clash between the Dragons and Falcons on Friday night at Falcon Pride Stadium (7, WFUN). DANIEL KRAUS and WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon
Published September 11, 2008 12:38 am - How’s this for predictable? For the past seven years, every time Jefferson and Lakeside have met, even the weather has seemed preordained — rain.
A RAIN OF DOMINANCE Jefferson has one (perhaps) final chance to get best of Lakeside
ADAM RAEDER Star Beacon
How’s this for predictable?
For the past seven years, every time Jefferson and Lakeside have met, even the weather has seemed preordained — rain.
“I already know it’s going to rain,” Jefferson coach Jimmy Henson said. “Lakeside, it rains every year. I’ve already got my rain suit in the locker room. I don’t think there’s been one yet that hasn’t been in the rain.”
While Henson and his players sound resigned to the same old weather, they’re hardly resigned to the same old result on the field when the two teams meet on Friday (7 p.m., WFUN) at Falcon Pride Stadium.
Because, for the past seven years, with the rain has come a Dragons win.
“It’s been what, eight, nine years? It’s our last chance, since they’re off our schedule next year. So we’ve got to win it,” quarterback John Namey said.
“Plus, it’ll help our record if we do,” Namey added as almost an afterthought.
And why shouldn’t the Falcons be a little bit confident? It’s not like they’ve been getting blown out over the years.
“(They’ve been) games that could have gone either way, and everyone of them has gone their way,” Henson said. “We’re trying to do something to change that.”
And the Dragons definitely haven’t forgotten that they’ve built their winning streak by the slimmest of margins, including last year’s 21-6 triumph.
“In my opinion, that’s always one of our toughest games,” Lakeside coach Van McWreath said. “We’re expecting another close, tough game.”
It’s a game that promises to be a contrast of styles — the fast Dragons and their pistol spread offense against the big Falcons and their 3-yards-and-a-pile-of-mud attack.
“They’re definitely bigger than us. I’ve got to give Coach Henson credit. I think one of the ways to win high school football games is to run the ball, and they’re sound at running the ball,” McWreath said. “They’ve got strong backs that fight for extra yardage.
“We’re a little concerned about that. We’ve given up a lot of yards rushing this year. So, I think they match up well with us.”
Making things more difficult for the Dragons are a slew of injuries.
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