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Football: Do or die: Trojans face must-win scenario to qualify for postseason
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
With nine games in the books, the scenario is simple for Newman Smith's football team: win and qualify for the playoffs.
The Trojans (4-5, 2-4 in 10-4A) close the regular season at 7 p.m. Thursday when they host Forney (4-5, 3-3). A win would propel Smith into a tie with Forney and potentially Creekview, depending on the Mustangs results Friday against North Forney, but in any scenario the Trojans would hold the tiebreaker advantages.
Forney enters the contest having won three of its past four games.
Ressa said that while Forney has multiple "home run hitters" they also have the personnel to, "grind out drives and victories."
Schematically, the Trojans have to prepare for anything.
"[Forney is] very multiple," Ressa said. "They'll do it all. They'll get under center, they'll go empty and try to spread you out. They do it all. And they're a rhythm offense, so once they find something that is working, they'll try to stick with it."
Forney quarterback Jack King has thrown for 1,112 yards and seven touchdowns with 12 interceptions, while Clayton Chadwick paces the ground game with 633 yards (6.5 per carry) and also leads the team with 30 catches for 396 yards. Darris Jenkins has 10 scoring runs and 352 yards for Forney.
Defensively, Forney has allowed 21 points of fewer in their last three wins.
"They're nasty and have some go-getters," Ressa said.
The Trojans, meanwhile, are hoping to put their past two games behind them, including a loss Friday against district champ Highland Park, 58-7.
"Highland Park put a good plan together and came out and punched us in the mouth," Ressa said. "It got a little out of hand early and then we were able to play a lot of guys. But they're a very good team and I think whichever ones end up being the four playoff teams from 10-4A are going to be really strong."
But before they worry about deep postseason runs, the Trojans are hoping just to get in.
"We talked to the guys about how do you want to be remembered," Ressa said. "Do you want to go out there and rise up and keep the season going?"
Ressa and the Trojans are also excited to play a day early.
"We love playing Thursday," he said. "In this situation, the feeling is 'lets go. Lets get after it.' We had a tremendous practice [Monday] and we have to continue to ramp up. I don't need them ready today. I don't need them ready Tuesday or Wednesday. I need them ready to go at 7 p.m. Thursday and I think they will be."
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