Prep Grid Preview ... Week 3: Chiefs look to get off the schneid

ALMA -- It's not often one considers a Week 3 football game between non-conference opponents as being critical, but Friday's clash at Alma could be for Santa Fe.

The Chiefs have been hammered by a combined score of 96-14 the first two weeks. Against Knob Noster in the opener it was seven turnovers, four returned for touchdowns, that did them in. Last week, it was the vastly more talented University Academy club.

It's not so much the mistakes themselves that have Santa Fe head coach Andy Frerking concerned.

"Some of those errors were errors of effort," he declared. "Those are things we don't want to be known for."

Although the Chiefs' have won their last two meetings against Wentworth Military Academy, they have hardly dominated. A 25-8 loss to the Red Dragons in 2006 should be enough to prevent complacency.

"Most of the people in Alma Friday will be looking to win," Frerking noted. "They're coming off a big win over Sacred Hart (42-0) and we're hungry for a win."

Wentworth is a tough opponent for which to prepare because of its lack of continuity in personnel. Last year, quarterback José Del-Hoyo threw for 143 yards against Santa Fe during an 18-0 loss, but he's not back and it remains to be seen whether junior Brett Clement will pose a similar threat.

Also the switch of coaches, from unorthodox veteran Bob Levy to relative newcomer Chris Brooks, could mean a very different approach for the Dragons (1-1).

"They're in a situation where they can change line-ups week to week," with possibly some late-arriving players now ready, Frerking said. "You know what you have, but don't know what to expect."

That observation could be just as true for the Chiefs (0-2). They didn't look so good in beating Wentworth a year ago that they can go into this contest as a clear-cut favorite.

"Whoever gives great effort and wants it more will win," Frerking said. "We've got to do a better job of getting after it and being a physical football team."