CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Both Northeast and Kenwood High Schools have gotten off to a rocky start in the 2019 football campaign. Each school will look to gain their first win of the season on Friday, September 6, when the Knights host the Eagles.

Sometimes playing quality competition to open up a season can show a coach what his team is made of. Northeast head coach Brandon Clark said he has already begun to get a sense of what his team’s weaknesses are and what they need to do in order to correct them.

“We have definitely learned the things that we need to work on and improve upon,” Clark said. “For example, jumping offsides. We have given up a lot of first downs on defense just from not watching the ball. Also, we need to work on not over-pursuing the ball at times on defense and get better at blocking the proper person on the offensive line. We are in the right spots for the most part, we are just not getting the job done yet and I hope to see some major improvement there.”

Clark believes that battling through a tough schedule early in the season will pay off for his group in the long run.

“Playing teams like Riverdale and Reitz are good for our kids because it has them competing against high profile opponents and I think that can really help as a character builder,” Northeast head coach Brandon Clark said. “I want our kids to see what they are capable of becoming.”

In Kenwood’s previous game, the Knights surrendered 86 points to Oakland on the road. Miscues on special teams gave the Patriots outstanding field position time and time again, including a lost Knight fumble deep in their own end that resulted in an Oakland touchdown.

“Oakland is a very good football team,” Kenwood head coach Les Greer said. “We didn’t play well at times. It’s hard for young players to not press and try to do too much when a good team makes a play against them. A solid week of practice and keep working to get better and we’ll continue to show improvement.”

Despite the final numbers on the scoreboard, Kenwood’s game against the Patriots was close in the early going as Knights quarterback Jaylen Washington connected on two long touchdown passes to Kavarius Moody to tie the game at 14. Greer spoke on why the game got out of hand and how his offense can find its groove against Northeast.

“Execution,” Greer said. “We had a couple of mental busts that kept us from consistently moving the football. When you play a great defense, everything happens faster. Running lanes and passing windows are smaller. You must be sharp in your execution. Week one, we scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. Last week we scored 14 points in the first quarter. We just need to focus on execution.”

Northeast’s Tomario Vereen had four catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns last week against Evansville Reitz (Ind.). Greer said it’ll take an all-around effort to slow down the Eagles and that spending too much time preparing for just one player isn’t the approach one wants to take against a team like Northeast.

“We need to focus on playing good team defense,” Greer said of his team’s game plan. “If you focus too much attention on one player then sometimes you get out of position and hurt the overall defense. Down and distance will dictate some things we’ll try to do. We believe in our system and teaching continuity. We don’t get caught up in doing this or that to try and stop one player. Northeast has enough athletes to make you pay in other areas if you do something unsound just to focus on one player.”

Last week against Evansville Reitz (Ind.), Eagles quarterback J’Lin Powell threw for 189 yards and had three passing touchdowns. Even in defeat, Clark believes this performance from Powell could help elevate his game moving forward.

“I think J’Lin’s performance gave him a big boost of confidence,” Clark said. “We know that is what he is capable of every week. I think that against Reitz we found some offensive identity that can be built upon.”

Come Friday night, Greer simply wants his group to pay attention to detail and play mistake-free football.

“I want to see a disciplined team that plays hard and executes,” Greer said. “Zero turnovers. Zero pre-snap penalties.”

Kenwood (0-2) hosts Northeast (0-2) Friday, Sept. 6.