WORTHINGTON -- With its first win of the season under its belt, the Worthington High School football team is riding high coming into this week's matchup with the undefeated Canby Lancers.
"Anytime you win, you are feeling on top of the world," Trojans coach Brad Grimmius said. "Our guys really worked hard, and they are walking on water right now. We want to keep that feeling, so we have been working hard at practice this week."
Not only did the Trojans get their first win last week, but they did it on the back of a strong defensive effort and an emerging running game.
"When your defense puts up 11 points on the board you are always in a good spot," Grimmius said. "In the second quarter, we started moving the ball and getting the long drive that we've been hoping for all the way through."
Grimmius attributes the dominance his defense showed in last week's win over Windom to a change in the players level of intensity and how they came off the ball.
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"Our interior seven played really well," Grimmius said. "Our linebackers were coming hard on the blitz finally and weren't just coming through all nonchalant. Last game, it was like they were shot out of a cannon.
"This is the first time all year that we as a coaching staff thought the team played with heart and emotion. That is the game of football."
One thing Grimmius believes had a big impact on the team's success was an alteration of the blocking schemes.
"By simplifying the blocking scheme, we were blocking downfield -- we were blocking at the point of attack and we had cut off blocks on the back side," Grimmius said. "And that made it easier for our running backs to hit their spots."
As good as the Trojans' offense and defense played last week, it was the third phase of the game that really made a difference.
"Our special teams were a huge point, too," Grimmius said. "Will Mulder did a great job of kicking the ball where they weren't, either punting it or kicking it. And our coverage was really good, too."
If Worthington is to get a win this week against Canby, they will have to make sure to contain the Lancers' running game.
"We've been doing a lot of inside work because they have a great running back," Grimmius said. "He has 993 yards so far this year, and we definitely have to shut him down.
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"They are going to spread us out, too, though. We have to have to be ready to cover that too since they like to throw it, too."
On the offensive side of the ball, the Trojans will need to continue to develop their running game while also working on spreading out the Lancers' defense with the passing attack.
"We are blocking better up front now on offense," Grimmius said. "But then the next thing we have to come along is the pass game. We didn't try to throw much last week when we got the big lead. We have to get the passing game coming, because then that will open up more running lanes."
Even though it feels good to get a win after going 0-3, Grimmius knows his players will not be happy with just one triumph.
"We talked this week about whether or not we are still hungry," Grimmius said. "We are not full with one win -- we are still hungry. If we look at practice this week, I'd say we are still really hungry."
Daily Globe Reporter Jordan Willi may be reached at 376-7335.
