(Underwood, IA) — Tri Center and Underwood are both coming off of losses as they begin District play against each other on Friday.
The Trojans have lost two in a row, falling to OABCIG 18-14 and last week to Hinton 42-26. Tri Center also came out of the game with a laundry list of injuries — among the wounded are Wide Receiver Zach Nelson and TE/LB Jayden Johnson — they will be game time decisions. AJ Harder threw for 271 yards and 2 TD last week but the Blackhawks had 417 rushing yards to answer. All of that is in the past and Head Coach Steve Peterson says the new season begins on Friday
Could this game evolve into a shootout? In 3 games, Harder has thrown for 934 yards and 7 TD with only 1 interception. Garrett Luett of Underwood has fired off 616 yards for 7 TD and 1 INT. If both teams go to the air than Peterson says they will have to do two things: Number one, protect Harder and number two, pressure Luett
The two towns are only separated by just over 5 miles and the Eagles have won the last 6 meetings. Peterson says getting a win to stop that streak would mean a ton
Underwood had built a 21-0 lead over Clarinda but let it slip away. The Eagles actually were plus one in the turnover margin but Head Coach Nate Mechaelsen was concerned even when they had the lead
If both teams run the football, it will be Adan Goldapp for Tri Center and Charlie Myers or Luett for Underwood. Goldapp has 348 yards on 67 carries averaging 5.8 a carry while Myers has 111 yards on 46 carries while Luett leads the Eagles with 214 yards on 43 carries. If its passing the football, Mechaelsen is satisfied with the pass protection from his offensive line but he says the defense must do better in pressuring the QB
Mechaelsen says the rivalry has been halted a couple of times over the years but he says its good for both teams that they keep each other on the schedule
1-2 Tri Center visits 2-1 Underwood on Friday night
