RED SPRINGS — The “win one for the Gipper” speeches won’t be necessary this week when Red Springs hosts St. Pauls on Friday in what figures to be a monumental football matchup in the Three Rivers Conference.
Ramifications run rampant in this one. The teams are one game apart in the standings with just two contests remaining on their respective schedules. The loser is likely eliminated from playoff contention. Oh, and, then there’s that whole thing about them having a healthy disdain for one another.
Red Springs (5-4, 3-4 TRC) coach Lawrence Ches acknowledged the heated history that defines the annual contest and tried to sum up the root of the bad blood.
“The schools are located very near in proximity and the kids know each other very well,” said Ches.
Separated by 14 miles of green pastures and two-lane roads, the two programs have battled for years with students and alumni joining in on the back-and-forth jawing. St. Pauls (6-3, 4-3 TRC) interim coach Mike Setzer has had multiple stints coaching during the contest and knows his players will be ready to go on Friday.
“My week should be easy on that end, I shouldn’t have to motivate them,” Setzer said. “Rivalry weeks are fun, especially if you’re on the winning end of them.”
It was Ches who ended up on the winning end in last year’s 36-18 road win over the Bulldogs in his first season as head coach. This time around, he’ll be without two starters that were pivotal to the successful outcome.
Leading rusher Lee McLean ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns in that game, but hasn’t played a down this season due to a torn ACL. Meanwhile, starting quarterback Denym McKeithan is doubtful after suffering an injury in the win over West Columbus last Friday.
Ches says the practices throughout the week weren’t much different without the senior signal-caller and that he’s confident his other seniors, Coty Locklear and running backs Jayshawn Carthen and Mickey Ball, can step up to lead the offense if necessary.
“He literally is a true leader by example,” Ches said about Locklear. “He exemplifies the kind of character it takes to be a winning program. I have nothing but confidence in Coty and I believe he can get the job done.”
Setzer’s Bulldogs are banged up as well and much like the Red Devils, have suffered from the grueling makeshift schedule caused by the postponed games during Hurricane Florence. The county’s leading rusher, Marqueise Coleman, has been nursing an ankle injury the past few weeks, but has the support of his coaches going into the big game.
“It’s one of those games you got to dig deep inside yourself and understand that it’s going to be some pain, but pain don’t last always. This is a game I feel like kids can grow up,” said Setzer.
As for the strategies both coaches expect to determine the outcome, there are differing stances.
“It all comes down to turnovers. The team that maintains control of the ball will probably win the game,” said Ches.
The Bulldogs defense has established an identity of being fast and opportunistic this season. They’ve caused the most turnovers in Robeson County, including seven in the win over Fairmont two weeks ago. Setzer acknowledged, however, that his team has struggled to stop the Wing-T offense that is so predominant in the conference. The Red Devils will use their fair share of the run-heavy style of offense and Setzer says his group will have to find the answer of attacking it.
In addition to bragging rights for a year, the immediate result of a win for either team could mean a playoff berth. Ches stressed how important it is for his team to win the last two games if they want to keep their playoff chances “alive.” Meanwhile, Setzer exuded the same type of urgency when mentioning how big a win on Friday would be mean for the club.
“We want to go out and say that we believe we can play in a game of this magnitude,” Setzer said. “When you win games like this, it gives some confirmation to the kids that this coaching staff is intelligent enough to win ball games for you. Then you start to become a strong program again.”
