The Livingston Academy Wildcats are looking to start the 2020 football season out with a win against the Westmoreland Eagles.
The Wildcats enjoyed an undefeated regular season in 2019, but are replacing several starters. They will have to slow down Westmoreland’s wing-T offense to earn their fourth straight win over the Eagles.
“(Westmoreland) Coach Perry is a wing-T genius,” said LA head coach Bruce Lamb. “They’re so fundamentally sound. It does not matter if they lose their entire team, the team he comes back with this year will be so sound and physical. We better be ready because they do a great job of running the wing-T.”
The 2020 offseason has been unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a preseason with no scrimmages or jamborees, Lamb said facing a very physical Westmoreland squad is a concern.
“You can practice for a wing-T for months and they’re still going to break something on you because it’s such a deceptive offense,” said Lamb. “He always has a good quarterback that hides the ball well. It’s very tough to stop.”
The Wildcats were victorious over the Eagles in 2019, 35-2 in Livingston. The Wildcats are replacing one of the most prolific passers in school history, Will McDonald. Lamb said Parker Coleman will be his starter Friday, but he doesn’t expect him to do it all.
READ: 2020 Livingston Academy Football Preview
“We just want him to try to relax, go out and play and just control the game,” said Lamb. “We’re not going to ask him to do miraculous things week one. We just want him to control the game, be in charge, be the leader and I think he’ll do that.”
Facing a run-heavy Westmoreland offense, one of the keys to the game will be controlling time of possession. Lamb said it is important for his offense, led by Coleman and running back Kaleb Robinson, to control the clock.
“I think we also have to control the ball,” said Lamb. “We need to keep their offense off the field because they are potent. They do such a good job, so we do need to control the ball. We don’t need to turn the ball over and we need to establish the running game. I think we are going to be more of a runner this year than a thrower, so I think we need to establish that.”
Kickoff between the Eagles and the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. Friday night in Westmoreland.