(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)

By Michael V. Hannigan

This one has the makings of a shootout.

The Hornets will face undefeated Krum on Friday night in the area round, a matchup between two high-powered offenses. Athens is averaging 53 points per game. Krum is averaging 51.

Krum enters the game at 10-0. One of its early games was canceled, but the Bobcats haven’t missed a beat.

“They’re a really really good football team,” Head Coach Zac Harrell said. “First thing that jumps out at you is their offense. They’ve scored a ton of points.”

Harrell said Krum’s offense is dangerous because it has answers everywhere.

“They don’t have any weak spots,” he said. “They have three really talented receivers. They have a running back that is really good. He’s already over a thousand yards. Their quarterback runs the offense extremely well. And the offensive line is really good.”

Harrell said the Bobcats are just as sound on defense.

“They’re extremely well coached,” he said. “They run their base defense and every position is coached really well on what to do to try to take away what the offense is doing.”

For Athens, that means the margin for error shrinks.

“When you’re playing a team that’s well coached, you got to make sure that you’re executing at a high level,” Harrell said. “Because if we’re not, then they’re going to get us.”

The Hornets are coming off their first playoff win in 10 years, a 57-49 shootout over Gilmer. Harrell said that win was important, but the team has to guard against two dangers this time of year: complacency and looking ahead.

“Once you start looking ahead your focus isn’t on what it has to be,” he said. “Our focus has to be on winning this week.”

Keys to the Game

Word of the Week: Foot on the pedal

“No cruise control,” Harrell said. “We tasted what it could feel like to win a playoff game. Well, let’s go get more. So don’t relax.”

* Fix last week’s mistakes. “Have a heightened focus on areas we must improve on from last week,” Harrell said.

* Get off the field on third and fourth downs. Gilmer ran 92 plays last week. Athens ran 37.

* Play with more physical energy. Match Krum’s effort snap to snap.

* Dominate the line of scrimmage on offense. “When we do that, we are really hard to stop,” Harrell said.

* Win the turnover battle. “Zero turnovers. Cause three,” Harrell said. “In a big game, if you do that, you’re going to be in good shape.”

Coach Harrell praised last week’s crowd.

“The community was a big factor in the game Friday,” Harrell said. “We need you on Friday. We need you to be loud and we need a lot of numbers there.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at E.H. Hanby Stadium in Mesquite.

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