The St. Francis Lancers, led by senior QB Colin Johnson (above), will play their home opener against the Palma Chieftains Friday night (7:30 PM) looking to avenge a 17-10 loss in the first round of the playoffs last season.
The Chieftains have other plans.
“We have had a very productive offseason in the weight room," Palma head coach Jeff Carnazzo said, "and we have a lot of available film on St. Francis since we have played them four times the last two years."
The key for Palma in this game is the defense. Palma’s big defense will likely cause some problems for the hard-nosed run-offense of the Lancers.
“We are preparing for St. Francis' strong running game,” said Carnazzo.
In the passing game, Palma’s large front line could cause some problems for Johnson, though he showed off his mobility in the season-opening 27-25 loss at Oak Grove.
“Field position may [get us the win],” St. Francis special teams coach Dan Quinn said.
Field position is of supreme importance against the Chieftains, as the Lancers will need to shorten the field for themselves in order to compensate for the sturdy run-defense of Palma, especially since St. Francis is known for having a run-heavy offense. The Lancers will be featuring a revamped offensive line from last week, though, to help the running game and to protect the quarterback.
Carnazzo acknowledged that this game will be a tone-setter for the rest of the season.
“Playing a tough opponent like St. Francis always does help prepare us for the season ahead," he said.
