From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Rob Green, head football coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, has made lineup changes on offense in preparation for tonight’s home opener.

Arkansas Baptist of Little Rock visits for the 7 p.m. contest at Robertson Field.

NEO and Arkansas Baptist have opposite goals after last week’s season-opening results on the road against Kansas opponents.

Arkansas Baptist wants to keep a good thing going after winning 21-17 at Highland. NEO isn’t expected to be in a pleasant mood after losing 33-14 at Hutchinson.

Arkansas Baptist had gone winless (0-9) in its inaugural 2007 campaign. The NEO losing streak is at six since opening the 2007 season with four wins. The Golden Norsemen haven’t won since beating the Buffaloes 38-9 at Robertson Field.

Arkansas Baptist currently is in its probationary season before becoming a full-fledged member of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference next season.

The lineup changes for the Golden Norsemen include the moving of 6-foot-2, 185-pound freshman Danny Knighton from cornerback to quarterback and the insertion of 6-0, 200-pound tailback Cardell Clemons into the starting lineup.

Said Green: “Danny has had only a week to learn the system, but he has the speed and quickness to make things happen. Cardell, who had 35 yards on nine carries against Hutchinson, gives us an inside threat. Even though we’re a spread offense, we have to be able to run the ball to keep the defense going.

“We spent the entire week reemphasizing the importance of turnovers,” Green said. “Our main focus on offense is ball security. We had three interceptions and four fumbles and you can’t beat anybody with that many turnovers.

“We played solid enough defense, that if we take care of the ball, we’re going to stay in the game and have a chance to win.” Green said. “These aren’t things that our players didn’t know.

“Arkansas Baptist took its lumps last season and the Buffaloes will come in looking for revenge,” Green said. “They have a potent passing game in (quarterback Nick) Maxfield and (Eric) Turner.

“Defensively, because we held Hutchinson to only 90 passing yards, we’re in pretty good shape,” Green said. “We settled in and held them in check after they completed that one long reverse pass for 50 yards. We’ll have to have that kind of effort against Arkansas Baptist.”