From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College football coach Rob Green is hoping the combination of an improving offense and lack of mistakes can yank the team out of its miseries.
The Golden Norsemen, 0-3 overall this season, have lost eight in a row entering today’s game in Little Rock against Arkansas Baptist College.
The Buffaloes are in a less alarming slide with two straight losses after opening the season with two victories — their first — after launching play in 2007 in winless fashion.
Kickoff between NEO and ABC — each lost their Southwest Junior College Football Conference opener last week — is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Quigley Stadium at Central High School.
The Buffaloes visited the Golden Norsemen on Sept. 6 in Miami at Robertson Field and came away with a 21-6 nonconference win.
“Playing a team for the second time really isn’t a factor because in this conference it’s probably going to happen anyway if you qualify for the playoffs,” Green said.
“Our main objective is to win the game regardless of the opponent. Because it was just three weeks ago, both of us are more familiar with each other’s personnel and the schemes that we run.”
NEO lost 48-29 to Trinity Valley and No.1-ranked Blinn spanked Arkansas Baptist 38-3 in SWJCFC openers last week.
“We’ve made great strides overall in our offense and it showed against Trinity Valley,” Green said. “That’s a great positive. But the negative part is that we keep ‘shooting ourselves in the foot.’ You can’t beat anybody at any level if you continue to throw interceptions or fumble the ball away in the red zone. You also can’t have the breakdowns in your kicking game that we’ve been having.
“(Cardell) Clemens really has stepped up his game to make our running game a lot more effective,” Green said. “Our offensive line has started to jell together and I was encouraged by the play of our tight ends against Trinity Valley. We moved freshman offensive guard Garrett Dick (6-foot-2, 250-pounder from Yukon) to a tight end or blocking fullback and he did a great job.
“Our kids are playing hard and I believe our schemes are solid,” Green said. “We were 4-0 a year ago at this time and hadn’t committed one turnover. This year it’s almost like ‘anytime they want the ball, you can have it.’ As we continue to make the same mistakes, it’s important for us as coaches not to put these kids in those situations where they repeat them.”
Notes: Clemens, a transfer from Pittsburg State, has rushed 61 times for 288 yards and three touchdowns. NEO freshman quarterback Trey Munden has completed 39 of 75 passes for 531 yards. Colton Chelf is the leading receiver with 18 receptions for 358 yards and one score. ... Middle linebacker Robert Spann is the NEO leader in total tackles with 42. End Christo Bilukidi has four sacks.
