By Jamie Wachter / Sports Editor
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
West Lauderdale runs the football. It is the one constant in the Knights' success over the past nine years where the Knights have missed the playoffs just once.
However, two games into the 2010 season, the 0-2 Knights are still looking to get that rushing attack on track.
"Offensively, we still have some work to do," West coach Glen Sanders said. "We've been playing some young guys and they've got to get better. But this week is another opportunity to get some guys some game experience and it should make us better later on.
"We've got to run the football better, we didn't do a very good job of that. And that's the one thing we've done the last seven years is run the football. But so far we haven't been able to do that."
That task won't be easy Friday when West travels to 2-0 Gulfport. The Admirals are an experienced team that are also loaded with talent.
"We've got another tough one this week, but that's all right," Sanders added. "We're used to that and we've worked hard this week to get ready for these guys.
"They've got several college prospects, especially defensively they've got two or three guys that will play big time college football."
The Admirals also have talent on the offensive side of the ball, as evidenced by the 308.5 yards rushing they are averaging per game, with three backs over 100 yards led by Antwar Ashley's 160. Gulfport's main strength there is the ability to execute, according to Sanders.
"They've got a lot of depth on both sides of the ball and they're very well-coached," he said. "They won't make a lot of mistakes. Defensively, they do the exact same thing we do and run a 5-2 defense. They just do a really good job of playing technique.
"Offensively, they don't do a lot, but what they do, they do really, really well. They run very few plays, but they just look like a machine and run them flawlessly."
Gulfport is also dangerous tin the rare times it does air it out as Dennis Robertson has completed 11 of 15 passes for 171 yards and two scores.
That efficient offense will challenge a West defense, that despite allowing an average of 28 points per game, is playing well according to Sanders.
"Defensively, I think we've played pretty good both games," he said.
