Prep Grid Preview ... Week 3: 'Cats prepare to rebound

SLATER -- After an impressive win to open the season, Slater woke up to the reality of the rugged Lewis and Clark Conference last week with a 53-7 loss to Paris.

Head coach Chris Ferri, though, doesn't think that foretells yet another long, fruitless season for the Wildcats.

"We had a bunch of guys who were in the wrong spots," he said. In practice this week, "we went back to basics."

The Purple hopes the secret to success can be found Friday at Edina against a Knox County team it beat 18-0 last year -- Slater's only victory over a playoff-bound team.

"They're a big and physical team," Ferri described the Eagles, which brought back seven starters on offense and eight on defense. "What we saw against Paris we'll see again, except the passing: big, physical guys who can pound the ball."

Knox County (1-1) takes it cue from senior quarterback Keenan Gillaspy, who last year accounted for near 1,700 combined passing and running yards to earn second-team all-Tri-Rivers Conference selection.

"They try to get the ball in his hands as much as possible," Ferri said.

Slater could use this game as a measuring stick, since the Eagles have already played two L&C members -- beating Fayette (7-0) and losing at Westran (29-6) -- but Ferri is discounts that notion.

"We have to forget the comparisons," he remarked. "If we're planning on being a good team and getting into the playoffs, we have get better week to week to week"