Van Buren, Northside both seeking to turn page

When Northside lines up against Van Buren today, both teams are attempting to turn the page. The Grizzlies are eager to bounce back from an opening-week defeat to Greenwood in which Northside trailed 34-0 before halftime. At the same time, the Pointers are wanting to put last week’s tough loss to archrival Alma behind them. “If both of us show up the way we did our first games, it will probably be pretty entertaining on who knows what’s going to happen,” Northside coach Mike Falleur said. “But we all know that most football teams make the most improvement from game one to two, so which one of us is going to make the most improvement and which one is going to display that (today) and whichever one does that is going to win the football game, it’s that simple.” Falleur added the Pointers are now possessing more of a wide-open offense, so it won’t necessarily be a polar opposite in offensive philosophy compared to having to go up against Greenwood’s spread set. “They’ve changed,” Falleur said of Van Buren. “They’re in the spread, they got out of the double-slot. ... They still like to run the football. They beat themselves with mistakes last week; they moved the ball up and down the field against Alma and had every opportunity to score two or three more times. “They’re a much, much improved football team from a year ago.” Van Buren is hoping to take advantage of those opportunities today the Pointers weren’t able to capitalize on in last week’s loss. “We were inside the 12-yard line five times against Alma and came away with seven points and we just can’t do that and beat anybody,” Van Buren coach Greg Werner said. “Then we’ve got to take advantage of opportunities. ... It’s about making plays for us and when we’ve got a chance, we’ve got to make them and we’ve got to do that if we want to start winning ballgames. But we’ve had a great week of practice and the kids are excited, so it’s been good.” Werner is also aware the Grizzlies are desperate for a win following last week’s performance at Greenwood. “Greenwood’s going to make a lot of people look bad and there’s no doubt, Northside’s a good football team and they showed that in the second half. ... They’re awfully talented in every position and they’re scary for sure,” Werner said.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN, NORTHSIDE BOTH SEEKING TO TURN PAGE

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 9/8/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics