Northeast Lauderdale will enter uncharted territory

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Nov. 12, 2003
The Northeast Lauderdale High School football team is entering unfamiliar territory in very familiar fashion Friday night.
The Trojans (5-6) will hit the road for a 2 1/2-hour bus ride to take on the Lawrence County Cougars (9-2) in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
Northeast stunned Division 8-4A champion Gautier 41-20 in Pascagoula last Saturday in the school's first appearance in the playoffs since 1985.
The Trojans trip to Lawrence County will be their third straight road game, and head coach Steve Nelson said his team has become accustomed to long trips.
The Trojans proved how well the can handle playing away from home against Gautier last week.
Northeast snapped Gautier's six-game winning streak on the strength of a combined 481 yard rushing performance. Dontray Walker chalked up 275 yards on the ground, and Maurice Langston added 170.
As impressive as their performance was last Thursday, Nelson said the Trojans understand that each round of the playoffs is a clean slate.
As challenging as it maybe for Northeast to forget about how well it did against Gautier, Lawrence County's offensive line will provide an even bigger obstacle for the Trojans.
The Cougars, who also like to pound the ball on the ground at opposing defenses, fields one of the bigger front five the Trojans have faced this year.
It will be critical for Northeast's defensive line to find away to combat the girth of Lawrence County for the Trojans to have a chance to move onto the third round.
On defense, Lawrence County isn't nearly as big, but what the Cougars lack in size they make up for in speed to stop the opposition's offense.
Northeast will enter Friday's contest as an underdog for a second straight game, and the Trojans head coach said it is important for his team not to be satisfied with just making it to the second round.
The Trojans are scheduled to kick off against the Cougars at 7 p.m.