“This is the closest game that we have to a rivalry,” Ragland head coach Brian Mintiz said. “As far as the region is concerned, if we beat them the best we can finish is third and if we lose we will be fourth. It is bigger for them, because if they win they are tied for first in the region. So it is a big game in that respect.”
With the game being moved up due to the threat of severe weather in the area, Ragland’s preparing time was cut a day short.
“It cuts out pre-game walk through,” Mintiz said. “Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will do more work than we ordinarily do a day before the game.”
Mintiz believes this year’s team is a typical Appalachian squad.
“They are big and strong,” Mintiz said. “It is a typical Appalachian team. On offense they run some spread and they run some power formations like the wishbone. Defensively they run out of a 5-3. They do not attack or blitz like the other teams that we have seen that run it, but they swarm to the football.”
With Appalachian loading the box defensively with eight players, the Purple Devils will turn to quarterback Keshawn Killings to make plays through the air.
“In a 5-3 defense they bring more people than you have blocking,” Mintiz said. “We try to throw the ball but that’s a lot to put on his shoulders; it’s been tough. We are going to have to try to get the ball to the outside and get into their secondary.”
In the two region games that Ragland has lost this season they have turned the ball over nine times. He believes if they can hold on to the ball and maintain their intensity they will have a chance to defeat Appalachian.
“We can’t turn the ball over,” Mintiz said. “We have to maintain our effort and intensity. We can’t have slumps; we have to play hard to be successful and we have to play good defense.”
Kickoff is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. from Appalachian.
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