MAYER – After grinding out a win in the mud and rain on the road last week, it doesn’t get much easier for the Mayer Lutheran football team this week as they hit the road for a top-10 matchup against the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms Friday night. The Crusaders moved up to No. 8 in the latest Class A poll, while the Awesome Blossoms come in as the No. 10-ranked team.
The Awesome Blossoms feature a team full of speed and a high-powered offense. They are averaging 24.8 point a game coming into the matchup, and have scored 37 or more points in a game this season three times.
“Watching the video, the one thing that has us concerned about them is their team speed,” Mayer Lutheran coach Dean Aurich said. “Their team speed is really quick, and they’re wide open. We’re a good steady team, so it’s going to be a good matchup. Can we match their quickness? I guess time will tell. They run and pass well, and their defense is very quick. It’ll be a really good challenge.”
With the overall speed of the Awesome Blossoms, tackling will be a key for the Crusaders heading into this matchup.
“We’ve got to lower our pads a bit,” Aurich said. “In the mud bowl, we were all standing up. We got to block a little lower. Tackle a little lower, and get off on the ball a little lower. If we do that, we have a chance. That’s going to be our emphasis.”
The Crusaders are a perfect 6-0 in Mid Southeast West district this season. This week, they’ll take a break from the district schedule and try to secure their spot among some of the top teams in the state in Class A.
“There’s not much else you can control besides your work ethic and your attitude,” Aurich said. “We’ll get the little things done and see what happens.”