District title hunt for Fairfield begins Friday

?I think right now we still searching to find an idenity,? said Fairfield head coach Mike Schenck heading into Friday?s District 5 opener against Williamsburg.

Following the 41-0 drubbing the Raiders handed Fairfield last year, a win might go quite a ways toward that search.

?It is an important game for both teams. It?s the district opener and it?s a home game ? we need to especially take care of business at home,? Schenck said. ?This game should show how much we have improved over last year and I think there is a confidence factor as well.?

Following Williamsburg?s week one loss to Class 2A second-ranked Mid-Prairie, the Raiders bounced back last week with a strong defensive effort that resulted in a 19-0 win over Center Point-Urbana. Despite the blemish on the record, Williamsburg is without a doubt the toughest opponent to line up against Fairfield so far in 2009, not to mention the first team that should have no problem matching the Trojans? size up front. The Raiders boast big lines on both sides of the ball with heavyweight wrestling champion Austin Blythe and Ryan Hulsberg anchoring the offensive line.

Behind the line is combination of power and speed with lightning quick tailback Cord Slaymaker, who ran for 136 yards last week, paired with two big fullbacks, Tyler Greiner and Brett Waughop, that should get their fair share of carries as well. Experienced quarterback Tanner Blomme can also hurt teams through the air, but the Trojans will bank on a rock-solid defense that has only ceded one touchdown through two games.

?There is no question that Williamsburg is the best team we have played so far this season and they may very well be the best team we will face in our district,? Schenck said. ?I think our defense can hold down a good Williamsburg offense and we have been solid through our first two games, but Williamsburg could present some problems with their quickness in the backfield and their size up front.?

Probably more important than any confidence-building venture however, is the fact that Friday night?s winner will have a major leg up in the district title race ? a title the Raiders were runners-up for a year ago with a lone loss to undefeated Mount Pleasant. Fairfield on the other hand, posted just one district win in 2008 but look to take equal that total in just one try Friday against one of the favorites.

?It would be a very big win if we could knock off one of the favorites in week one,? said Schenck.

In addition to their defense anchored by Matt Hotek in the trenches, the Trojans will turn to running back and quarterback Jordan Leazer who have been stars for Fairfield in weeks one and two. A solid performance from the dual-threat QB on Friday may go a long ways toward making him forget about a game that saw him complete 7-17 passes with three interceptions in pouring rain last year. With no rain in Friday?s forecast, Leazer and Hammes are sure to get solid footing in hopes of matching the more than six yards per carry they have combined for thus far this year.