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TORONTO – The undefeated Toronto football team is focused on Oak Glen.
The Red Knights and Golden Bears are scheduled to continue their rivalry at 7 p.m. Friday night at Clarke Hinkle Field.
Toronto enters this week's game fresh off a 33-6 victory against rival Catholic Central last week at home.
"The kids played well, but there are definitely some things we have to cleanup," Toronto (4-0) head coach Jaret Aubiel said. "We did not play perfect, but we played well enough. We want to get better each week."
On the other side, Oak Glen comes into this week's game having lost its last two, including losing 54-14, against Southern Harrisonlast week on the road.
"We try to do our best and forget about it and move on," first-year Oak Glen (1-2) head coach Derrick Stickles said. "We did not do a good job of tackling. There were some scheme things as a coaching staff we would have liked to have done different. We made mistakes, and we want to correct those mistakes. South Harrison had 16 seniors, and River had 11 seniors, so we have played two very-experienced teams the last two weeks. We have taken some lumps, but we are going to learn from it and move on."
The boys from the Gem City are not looking past the visitors from Hancock County.
"We are going to have to stay focused," Aubiel said. "Oak Glen is a very-good football team. They are very capable. You can't take anyone lightly. They do a lot of things well. Their quarterback is extremely talented. They have good skill players. They are big upfront. They are going to be a challenge for us."
Toronto is a talented team, and Oak Glen is well aware of that fact.
"Toronto is a really-good football program," Stickles said. "We are going to have to be ready to face a lot of athletes."
The Golden Bears are more than capable of moving the football and putting points up on the scoreboard.
"They run some spread," Aubiel said. "They run, they pass, they run screens. There are a lot of things we have to prepare for."
The Red Knights have the ability to beat teams on the ground and through the air.
"They do the little things well," Stickles said. "They spread you out. They spread the ball around. They use different formations, and they run from those formations. They have made some big plays in the passing game. They have good receivers on the outside."
The Golden Bears have some good athletes on the defensive side of the ball.
"Defensively, they are fast," Aubiel said. "They cover well. They have a very-good run defense. Our offense is going to have to be ready to go."
Toronto's defense has played well the last couple of weeks, and the Red-and-White are looking to deliver another strong showing this week.
"Defensively, they run a 3-4," Stickles said. "They have a lot of athletes. Their defensive line plays hard. All 11 of their guys run to the football."
The Golden Bears have had some issues with tackling, and that is an area of concern for Oak Glen going into this week's matchup.
"We have been preaching to them that we have to tackle," Stickles said. "We have to tackle. We have to be able to get the ballcarrier on the ground. Offensively, we have been moving the ball. Defensively, we have to run to the football and get the ballcarrier on the ground."
The Red Knights know what it is going to take in order to be successful Friday night.
"We are going to have to stay focused, have a good week of practice, be disciplined and do our jobs Friday night," Aubiel said.
The game is Oak Glen's third-straight road game, however, the Golden Bears are thankful for not having to go too far for this week's game.
"It is nice to have a closer away game," Stickles said. "It is nice to be playing closer as compared to an hour-and-15 minute or two-hour drive. It is going to be nice to be playing closer to home. We have a home game the following week."
Friday night is Homecoming for Toronto.
"I really don't have anything to do with Homecoming, I just have to worry about coaching football," Aubiel said. "Homecoming definitely adds a layer to things. These are high school athletes. It has been addressed. We just have to stay focused, and we have to do our jobs."
The Golden Bears are playing this season with heavy hearts due to the death of junior football player Carter Pesacreta, who died Aug. 21 in an off road vehicle accident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Oak Glen program," Aubiel said. "They have our full support."