The Dublin Lions will kick off the season by taking on the Dragons at Bangs Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
The Green and Gold sharpened their claws for the fight in scrimmages Aug. 14 at Breckenridge and at home Thursday, Aug. 20 against the Hico Tigers.
“We competed well,” said head football coach/ athletic director Greg Hardcastle of the home scrimmage. “We had a couple of mistakes, but we were better than the week before and we continue to improve.”
Dublin is benefitting this year from a number of players entering their third year on varsity. Hardcastle said the returners are getting to the point where they can react without having to pause and recall strategy.
The coach also said the players have been more physical starting this season with players ready to get into the fray and tackle.
Hardcastle and the Lions are expecting a slightly different Bangs than last season as some of their key players graduated out last year and the team has adopted new strategies.
“The strength of their game is in their offense,” said Hardcastle. The Lions will need to hit the defense hard and land those tackles to keep the Dragons from gaining yards.
This not to say Bangs’ defensive front is any slouch. Hardcastle is hopeful the Dublin OL can match up with them on the field.
Lion fans are invited to cheer them on in a pep rally Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 a.m. at Dublin Secondary before they play that night.