(Listen to our podcast with Coach Jamie Driskell above.)
By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN
The Malakoff Tigers (1-0) stumbled a couple of times last week on the way to beating Bullard, 48-34, on the road. The Tigers will have to be better this week if they want another win when they play their home opener against Rusk.
Rusk (1-0) torched Center 48-21 to open its season last week.
The Eagles had two players combined for more than 370 yards rushing in their opener.
“The quarterback can really run,” said Malakoff Coach Jamie Driskell, “he’s just a really good athlete. And their running back can really run. They’ve got some speed on the outside with their receivers. We’ve got a challenge ahead of us and it’s a good challenge.”
Driskell said the Tigers would have to be physical this week to counter Rusk’s speed.
“You can’t answer to being physical,” he said. “We’ve got to play physical. We’ve got to hit when it is time to hit.”
Speed is going to be a big part of the Tiger offense as well, which will be running up-tempo.
“We keep our tempo up because it helps our offensive linemen,” said Driskell. “Other teams can’t stunt and blitz as much when we go fast.”
“We’re going to go fast and get it to our guys in space,” he said.
Driskell is hoping for a full house when the lights come on and some of his players run out at home for the first time.
“It’ll be crazy, it’ll be wild. It will be something they’ll remember for a long time,” he said. “There’s nothing like running out with your fans there and hopefully this place is rocking.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at Tiger Stadium.
(Follow Michael V. Hannigan on Twitter and Instagram @mvhannigan)