Prep Grid Preview ... Week 3: 'Hounds hope to turns season around

The Greyhounds hope to open some running lanes for senior Tyler Dohrman against I-70 Conference rival St. Paul. (Hobby King/The Concordian) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

SWEET SPRINGS -- An 0-2 start is not what Sweet Springs head coach Tim Smith had in mind this season, but he's been there before.

The Greyhounds lost their first two games last year, then righted themselves with four straight wins -- beginning with a 40-0 romp over St. Paul, which will host Friday's I-70 Conference contest. To get back on the winning track, Sweet Springs is going back to basics.

"We're not doing the fundamental things very well: tackling and blocking," Smith admitted. "It doesn't matter what scheme you play, if you don't play fundamental football you're not going to do well."

An offense which Smith expected to be very productive has been limited to 12 points in two games.

Against top-ranked two-time defending state champion Orrick, that's understandable. Against Windsor, in which the 'Hounds ran for a mere 114 yards, it's unacceptable.

"We're not getting to the second level" on blocks, Smith said. "We're stopping ourselves more than the other team is stopping us."

The Saints (1-1, 0-0 I-70) have lost 14 straight league games, but head coach Larry Laubenstein -- in his 39th year at the helm -- has installed a new "pistol" offense which paid immediate dividends in a 26-18 overtime win over Wentworth to open the season.

It seems to play to the strengths of senior quarterback Jordan Bredehoeft.

"We're going to have to do a good job of getting the pass rush on him," Smith said. "Bredehoeft's a good quarterback and they've got good receivers."

Of course, time remains for Sweet Springs (0-2, 0-2) to get in gear. After all, the 'Hounds recovered from their slow 2008 start to reach the playoffs.

"We're in the same spot we were in last year," Smith noted. "Nothing's lost at this point."