Warhawks prepare for Dale County

The Daleville High School football team is currently in second place in Class 3A, Region 2 play, but the Warhawks are not alone.

Five other teams from the region are tied with Daleville, but when the Warhawks play the region’s No. 1 seed Dale County Friday, they will be thinking only about winning the game.

“A lot of (the playoff picture) will unfold this week, and we probably have the toughest challenge ahead of us,” Daleville coach Brad McCoy said. “It’s such a critical time in the year, but that’s how it’s laid out for us. We have to get after it and have a great preparation week to get ready for them.”

Going into the seventh week of the season, Daleville has seen its share of injuries so the Warhawks will be looking for players to step up and fill some areas.

“As time goes on this week, it’ll hopefully heal some wounds,” McCoy said. “We’ll see if we can get close to 100 percent again. We just have to have some kids step up who probably have not had that opportunity yet, and now is the most important time.”

The Warhawks were defeated in their past two games, but McCoy said those games are in the past and the players will have to continue to have a positive outlook toward the rest of the season.

“We have to get their minds off of the last two weeks,” he said. “It is a mental thing, and our kids need to gain some confidence.”

Dale County is currently undefeated, and McCoy said its offense is a big reason why.

“They’re a very good offensive football team,” he said. “They have so many playmakers. They play a lot of different sets and different players that they can get the ball to.”

While McCoy said he understands how much of a threat the Warriors’ offense is, he knows the Warhawks’ defense will have to be ready to match it.

“I think we held some kids off that side of the ball because they’re offensive starters, but I think we’re going to have to do a better job of getting our personnel in the best position to be successful,” he said.

Daleville competed against Dale County in its spring game and saw some of the Warriors’ defensive strengths.

“Dale County’s defense does a great job of disguising plays and giving you a lot of different looks to certain formations,” McCoy said. “We have to have a plan for certain plays and schemes that may help us have some breakaway plays.”

The only thing left for Daleville to do is to play to its fullest when the team travels to Midland City to compete against the Warriors Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

“Dale County is always important no matter what the records are,” McCoy said. “We’re trying to fight to gain a spot in the playoffs.”