Triad quarterback Jordan Simonelli looks downfield for a receiver against West Jefferson. The Cardinals will close out their season tonight at home against Northeastern. (Photo submitted)
The Triad Cardinals have been through the meat grinder over the last four weeks.
With one game, though, remaining in the season, head coach Zach Winslow believes his guys are still ready to play in what could be their last game at the current Cardinals Field.
“Coming off the four-game stretch we have had against some of the top small-school teams in the area, I feel like we are getting better,” he said. “I can see the growth in our kids.
“They are still learning and taking coaching is a huge thing for me at this point in the season.
“It keeps me excited that they are not ready to move on to winter sports,” said Winslow. “They are still invested in this season.”
The Cardinals have the chance to change the last four weeks around with a home win tonight (7 p.m.) against a Northeastern team that has also had its share of struggles.
Winslow said it will take excellence to win.
“They are on the same record as us,” he said. “It seems like they have had some of the same ups and downs as us, but on film they play extremely hard.
“We will need to bring our ‘A’ game and be excellent in our execution.”
The Cardinals’ execution is something that has been lacking this season for Winslow, who makes no bones about wanting to be a running team.
“My bread and butter is to run the ball,” the first-year coach said. “It is the fundamental form of our offense.
“I wanted to get consistent yards with the ball on the ground and manage the game, but we haven’t been able to do that.”
During the Cardinals; 61-28 loss to West Jefferson last week, Winslow and his more than 1,000-yard passer, Jordan Simonelli, may have discovered a new offense to try.
“Against West Jeff, we decided to go to the spread and up the tempo,” said the coach. “We drove down inside the five. We didn’t score, but it gave the kids some confidence.”
That confidence will be needed against a Jets offense that is led by gunslinger Jake Nichols.
He is nearing the 1,000-yard passing mark and leads the team in rushing with 367 yards.
The junior quarterback has plenty of targets. The Jets have two, 200-yard receivers and several more who are creeping up on that mark.
Dylan Haggy leads the Jets with 225 yards and Joe Covac leads the team with 22 receptions.
With the two sides about even on the stat sheets, Winslow believes his Cards hold the upper hand in possibly the last game played at the current Cardinal Field.
“Triad hasn’t won a home game since Ridgemont last year,” he said. “They (the team) want to send the seniors out with a home victory and potentially the last game that will be played on the current field with a new levy coming up to vote.”
The new levy, if passed, would finance a new football field.
“Next year, everything could be different,” said Winslow.