PREP FOOTBALL: Orabs hope to avenge last year’s loss to Lions

SHELDON, Iowa — When the Sheldon Orabs and the Central Lyon/George-Little Rock Lions meet this week, only one team will come out with its fourth win of the season.

“This will be a contest between two decent teams going at each other,” Orabs coach Matt Meendering said. “Hopefully it will be a competitive game too.”

In last season’s meeting, the Lions took down the Orabs 21-7 and Meendering knows this year’s game will be similar.

“Central Lyon is a well coached team,” Meendering said. “After this game you have an idea of where you are at as a team. They always come to play and bring a physical style of football.”

The key to the game for Meendering’s Orabs is to establish the run. If they can do that, they should be able to take charge of the game.

“We need to establish the run early,” Meendering said. “We have to be able to run the option. We didn’t do that very well last time we played them. If we can do that, we can set up our other plays. And our quarterback is key to being able to establish out option.”

CL/G-LR brings two powerful fullbacks to the game that will make it tough for the Orabs on defense.

“They have good speed and will run people over,” Meendering said. “They also have a good QB who can make plays for them. He can be really potent at times.”

Another key for the Orabs defense will be stopping the big plays that the Lions are capable of.

“We have to limit the big plays,” Meendering said. “But in the end it will come down to the line of scrimmage. The team that wins that battle will have the most success throughout the game.”

The Lions physical play in every facet of the game is another concern for the Orabs. If Sheldon hopes to win the game, they will have to be ready for the physicality CL/G-LR will bring at them all game long.

“We have to be prepared to play physically,” Meendering said. “We will also have to limit their special teams so they can’t beat us there. It will come down to who can create more opportunities for themselves, be it with fumbles or with big plays on special teams.”

Above all else, Meendering hopes this game will be well fought and competitive between the two 3-1 squads.

“Hopefully, this will be a game between two closely matched teams,” Meendering said. “Things are magnified more in those kinds of games.”

The Lions head to Sheldon to take on the Orabs for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.

Daily Globe Reporter Jordan Willi

may be reached at 376-7335.

Tags: central lyon, george-little rock, sports, prep, football, sheldon