The 'Cats are hoping that senior Jeremy Fizer (24) and others can generate a solid running game against Marceline's strong defense. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

SLATER -- Slater's 56-40 loss at Concordia last week allowed head coach Chris Ferri to point to a simple, yet necessary, lesson: "We definitely have to work on our tackling and pursuit drills."

So that's what the Wildcats spent Wednesday working on in preparation for Friday's home tilt against Marceline, one of the Lewis and Clark Conference's toughest teams.

"They're very solid and big up front, and have good skill people," Ferri noted. "They don't make many mistakes."

While the Tigers (4-1, 2-1 L&C) may not have the explosiveness of some teams, they are certainly capable of moving the chains and putting the ball in the end zone -- especially leaning on 6-foot-2, 186-pound running back Matthew Bell.

"They like to get the football to him," Ferri said. "They are a power running team."

The two teams have only one common opponent: Paris, which lost to Marceline last week, 28-0, after earlier beating the 'Cats 33-8. That clearly spells out the task before the Purple, which is to find a way to move the ball against the switching 4-4 and 5-2 defensive scheme of the Black Rage.

"We don't usually let the defense dictate our offense," Ferri said. "We've so used to seeing almost every defense out there."

While Slater (3-2, 0-1) has big-play ability, as demonstrated by their 579 yards in total offense against the Orioles, it has to tighten up defensively as it enters the stretch run against league foes who have not been inclined to yield many points -- such as Marceline, which is only allowing an average of 5.0 points per game.

"We have to limit our own mistakes and wrap up when we tackle," Ferri asserted. "We have guys in correct positions, they just don't finish the plays."