District play begins across the state tonight during week three of the high school football season. In class 3A a couple of rated teams collide in district four as fifth ranked Marion hosts number seven Central DeWitt.
Both teams are 2-0 and Marion coach Tony Perkins says the Indians had high hopes coming into the season. He says they knew they were going to have a lot of speed at all the linebacker and defensive back positions, but had concerns about the offensive and defensive lines because of the kids lost to graduation.
With the expansion of the post season half of the teams in the district will move on but Perkins says that won’t change how they approach district play. Perkins says they expect to be in the playoffs every year and with two more teams now in they don’t expect it to be different. Perkins says the change allows you to stumble and still be able to have a chance to make the playoffs.
Perkins says the Marion defense faces a tough challenge against a Sabers offense that features the wing-T. He says they hide the ball well, but giving the ball to the fullback and then move to the other backs and use a lot of misdirection and wait for you to make a mistake.
In class 2A, top ranked and defending champion Solon hosts number nine Wilton. Both teams are 2-0. Wilton coach Lance Pederson says he’s proud to think that some people think they have a chance, where six or seven years ago it would have been chalked up as an easy win for Solon.
Pederson says they want to keep the game close and see if they can win it. He says slowing down the Solon offense will be difficult, as they have one some great backs. Pederson says Solon has a huge group of athletic people who aren’t just football players, so they are good at every aspect of the game.