Prep Grid Preview ... Week 6: Wildcats try to tackle No. 7 Marceline

SLATER -- Coming off a 45-0 loss to Concordia, the Slater football team could use a break.

It's not going to get one Friday. The Wildcats return to Lewis and Clark Conference action at defending league co-champion Marceline, ranked seventh in this week's Class 1 poll.

"I think they're the best team we'll face this year," remarked Slater head coach Chris Ferri. "They're big, physical and fast -- and they have a lot of seniors. They're the real deal."

Veteran coach Shane Cavanah certainly selected a propitious time to return to Marceline, which he guided to seven straight L&C titles before moving on to Sweet Springs and points beyond -- winning everywhere he went.

The Tigers (5-0, 3-0 L&C) are built upon a strong running game behind third-year starter Matthew Bell. The 200-pound senior has rushed for 657 yards and eight touchdowns, but that's not half of the team's 1,519 yards on the ground.

"He's hard to bring down," Ferri said. "Against Salisbury, he had a great game blocking and running."

Meanwhile, Marceline's defense has allowed only 445 rushing yards and less than a thousand overall. Bell and senior Nick Cordray are strong linebackers, with 60 unassisted tackles between them, and for opponents looking to pass senior Wesley Pickman brings the heat with 5.5 sacks.

"Our goal is to get a couple of first downs per drive and play field position with them," Ferri said. "We definitely want to keep the clock running."

That may keep the score down, but the Wildcats (2-3, 0-1) also need to move the ball consistently just to gain some offensive continuity for later in the season.

"We're still trying to figure out some jobs," Ferri admitted. "Hopefully, we can do that by districts."

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SWEET SPRINGS -- While Slater will grapple with an elder Cavanah, a young one will on the opposite sideline from Sweet Springs.

In his second year at Crest Ridge, 2008 University of Central Missouri grad Chris Cavanah -- nephew of former 'Hounds' coach Shane and son of Princeton legend Dave -- is still looking to right a once-proud program.

The Cougars have already faced the I-70 Conference's elite teams, but don't have a win to show for it -- although are coming off a tough 16-8 loss to St. Paul, which gave Sweet Springs problems three weeks ago.

"They're going to come in here with nothing to lose," noted 'Hounds head coach Tim Smith. "What we throw at them won't be anything they haven't seen."

Sweet Springs (2-3, 2-3 I-70) is coming off a solid 42-6 win over Santa Fe, having tweaked an offense which had shown little productivity earlier in the season.

"I thought our blocking at the point of attack was pretty good," Smith said. "It wasn't just the changes we made, but also fundamental stuff the kids did better."

The results were 100-yard rushing performances for speedy senior Tyler Armstrong and junior David Hall -- a quarterback-in-waiting who was moved from the end position.

"He's a pretty good runner," Smith said. "He's got a little wiggle to him."

Crest Ridge (0-5, 0-5) is primarily a running team, but has only 384 yards in five games -- led by junior Jake Kemple's 198 yards.

Yet, the Cougars' spread approach could pose challenges.

"It's dangerous because ... you have to be ready for almost anything," Smith explained.

This is a win the 'Hounds need if they want to finish in the league's first division for the third year in a row.

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ALMA -- The goal for Santa Fe this week when it heads to I-70 Conference foe Windsor is simply to get better, especially on defense.

"We took a step forward on offense" last Friday, claimed Chiefs head coach Andy Frerking. "Defensively, we have to focus on getting after people and being more physical."

That's been Frerking's lament throughout this season, Santa Fe (1-4, 0-2 I-70) hemorrhaging 42.0 points per game. The Greyhounds (3-2, 3-2) have a club which make soft opponents pay.

"They have a lot of speed on the outside, then they hit you up the middle," Frerking said about the combo of fleet junior Skylar Belzer and powerful senior Matt Madole. The deception of the wing-T offense "puts a lot of pressure on young kids to execute their assignments."

Windsor has only given up more than two touchdowns in tilts against state-ranked Orrick and Wellington-Napoleon.

"They fly around to the football and they like to hit," Frerking said. "We have to block to the whistle, stay low and keep our feet moving."

With more rugged opponents yet to come, Santa Fe's main task will be developing an attitude that it is not only willing, but able, to match hit for hit.