Jeff Theisen
September 18, 2008
Reprinted with permission of the Novi News
Novi hopes to turn a two-game winning streak into three Friday night at Salem.
The Rocks have struggled to an 0-3 start and have struggled to put points on the board.
A 20-14 loss to Walled Lake Northern is the best offensive output so far. The Rocks lost their other two games to Plymouth and Livonia Stevenson by a combined 73 points.
No matter how much trouble the Rocks have had putting up points, Novi head coach Tab Kellepourey knows who they have to focus on this week.
"They have good running backs and can throw the ball," he said. "It's going to be challenging for our defense."
The Wildcats wasted little time in jumping all over South Lyon East last week and will hope to do much of the same this week.
"The longer the game stays close, the tougher it gets," Kellepourey said.
While the Wildcats have put together a couple of wins, Kellepourey and his assistants have gotten to know more about their team each week. But he can also see some hunger from players that might not have been ready to be starters in the beginning of the year.
"We're not done growing as a team," he said. "Usually, when you get to games four and five, the junior class is ready to get out there and play.
"They've been starved enough on the sidelines. They know that to play, they've got to produce in practices, and you see them practicing at a higher level."
Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday at Salem.