Triad’s Coleman Hauk carries the ball during a 2019 game. The Cardinals will host West Liberty on Friday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Triad Cardinals were able to open the 2020 football season with a solid 34-6 win over Southeastern last week.
However, Week 2 will bring a real challenge to the Cardinals when their neighboring rival West Liberty comes to help the Cards break in their new stadium.
Triad coach Dylan Wears said with emotions running deep, he wants the team to keep their focus on executing its game plan.
“I think the game has the chance to get emotional,” he said. “I told the team to not get too caught up in it.”
Wears will be leaning on his new quarterback Coleman Hauck to help keep those emotions in check on the field.
Hauck played in his first game as quarterback last week. He went six-for-nine in the air for a pair of TDs and one interception.
“Coleman is great leader and has really embraced the role,” Wears said. “Not only does he quarterback for us, but he also plays free safety and returns kicks.”
The Cardinals will also look to their stable of running backs to help against a 4-4 packed defense the Tigers will throw at the Triad line.
In last week’s contest, Wears utilized five different backs to move the ball.
Jackson Cordell, Hayden Simpson, Rodney Avery, Drue Instine and Zach Mitchem all got in on the mix to give the Cardinals 219 yards of rushing offense.
Cordell led the pack with 80 yards, while Simpson was the lone running back to find the end zone.
Wears added the box will be crowded, but it is nothing he hasn’t seen before.
“We run a 4-4 defense ourselves, so we are familiar with,” he said. “As a coaching staff we have something we can do to adjust to a 4-4.”
Wears said Triad’s defensive unit will have to be ready for anything.
“It seems like West Liberty’s offense is balanced,” he said. “They like to throw and run.”
Chase Hecker was able to get solid penetration of Southeastern’s defensive line to notch three quarterback sacks.
Cordell was a threat with 13 tackles in the Triad secondary.
The Cardinals will be put to the test against a 1-0 West Liberty team that defeated Greeneview, 36-21, to open the season.
Triad will have to contend with a dual-threat quarterback Christian Griffith. He threw for nearly 300 yards, while also leading the Tigers in rushing with 88 yards and three TDs.
The second week of the season also brings the opening of Triad’s new stadium after nearly five months of construction.
Wears said he is excited.
“I’m very excited to coach at home in front of our crowd,” he said. “More people will be able to come and watch in person and not have to watch online.”
With teams just returning to full competition, Wears is also just happy to see his team on the field this season.
“They are just excited to be playing,” he said. “I am seeing potential in them and as well as we played last week, there is still potential for more growth.”
Wears hopes to see that growth out of his team in a tough contest for the Cards. The game is schedule to kick-off at 7 p.m. at Triad stadium.