STANTON - The day has finally arrived for football to once again be played at Buffalo Stadium in Stanton.
The Buffaloes will be hosting the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes today at 5 p.m. in the first scrimmage of the season for both teams.
Normally, both teams would be playing their second scrimmage but the UIL canceled all scrimmages last week due to virus concerns.
With no red tape on this week’s action, Stanton looks to run over and man handle the competition.
“My main focus for the scrimmage is that we are the most physical team on the field,” said Stanton coach Cody Hogan. “I always tell the kids that we want our opponent to sit up out of bed the next morning and the soreness they feel reminds them of who they played and how physical we were.”
Stanton was able to dominate many of its opponents physically last season and look to do more of the same this season.
“We are physically bigger and stronger at this point than we were last year,” said Hogan. “We can see it their confidence and aggression in practice.”
Despite being the more physical team last year the Buffs struggled to win the battle of the scoreboard.
Hogan and the Stanton coaching staff are looking for things to be different this season.
“We are way ahead physically and mentally from this point last year,” Hogan stated. “It helps being in the second year of this offense, we aren’t having to work on big concepts of each play we can now work on the details.”
The little details will be the keys to victory. Many times last season the Buffs would sustain huge drives only to stop themselves with mental errors.
One key to winning games this season will be leadership. And the Buffs will not be lacking this season.
“All of our seniors have done a great job of stepping into a leadership role and have been good examples for our younger players of how they’re supposed to practice,” said Hogan.
Stanton’s much improved physicality, mental toughness, and strong leadership will be on full display against Lamesa.
The Golden Tornadoes should be more competitive this season after dropping down from Class AAAA during the re-alignment.
Lamesa could average 240 pounds on the offensive and defensive lines and look to make Stanton work to control the line of scrimmage.
Stanton will be looking for a big push from the offensive line as the Buffs boast a ground and pound, run first offense. This style helps shorten the game and allows for control the clock with long drives.
Defensively the Buffs want to limit Lamesa’s big play opportunities and force them into sustained drives.
“Bend, don’t break,” said Hogan.
The Buffs coaching staff will have no issue with Lamesa methodically moving the ball up and down the field as long as their defense stands strong in the red zone and does not allow Lamesa to cross the goal line.
The junior varsity and varsity are both expected to be in action with the scrimmage starting at 5 p.m.
Meet the Buffs will follow the scrimmage with band, football, cross country, and cheer members being introduced.
The junior varsity will open the season on Aug. 27 with a road game in Andrews next Thursday at 5 p.m.
The varsity Buffs will open the season at home next Friday against Grape Creek at 7:30 p.m.