Flames ready to take on Delta Kings on short week
On Feb. 3, 2008, the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz.
Entering a new season seven months later, the Detroit Lions become the first NFL team since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lose all of their regular season games with an 0-16 record. In college football, Louisiana State defeat Ohio State 38-24 in the BCS National Championship Game, becoming the first twotime BCS champions.
In the same year, Barack Obama displayed some of his basketball skills during one of his campaign stops, en route to being elected the 44th President of the United States. And all of this year’s Lodi High football players were in elementary school.
That was the last time a Lodi varsity football squad started its season at 2-0. The Flames knocked off Sheldon of Sacramento, 19-14, in the season opener that was followed with a 34-18 win over Galt. Lodi followed with wins over Stagg, 42-21, and crosstown rival Tokay 35-14 for a 40 record. The Flames were members of the San Joaquin Athletic Association, and Tokay was in the Tri-City Athletic League until 2014 when league realignment reunited the two schools into the same league.
Today, Lodi (2-0) is looking to add another win to that column when it host Stagg (1-2). Game time is 7:30 p.m.
The contest was originally scheduled to be played at the Grape Bowl. But because of the four-day Lodi Grape Festival that starts today, the game was relocated to McNair High, which is part of the Lodi Unified School District. Over the summer, McNair replaced its grass field with artificial turf.
In last Friday’s non-league game at Chavez, Lodi held off two touchdowns by Chavez to post a 26-22 victory. The Flames were led by sophomore quarterback Logan Stout, who had 66 yards on 18 carries and passed for 91
yards. Fullback Alfredo Estrada had 89 yards on 18 carries. Wingback Trey Reese contributed toward the Flames’ ground game with 78 yards on 11 carries. One of Titans’ touchdowns came on a kickoff return after a Flames’ touchdown in the second half.
“We’ve got a good group, a real good group of kids,” said Lodi coach Robert Sperling. “I like this team. They work hard, and they’ve got a good attitude about themselves. We know we’re not the biggest team, fastest team, they just try to outwork the other team.”
Two weeks ago, Lodi kicked off the season with a 27-12 win over Sonora, which has won back-to-back Mother Lodi League titles and a combined record of 23-3 the previous two seasons. The Flames’ defense allowed only one offensive touchdown; the Wildcats scored their second touchdown on a fumble recovery.
Stagg has seen limited success on offense and defense in its first three games of the season. The Delta Kings’ offense have averaged 11.3 points per game, and the defense has given up 29.6.
However, the Delta Kings have picked up momentum on their side with a 21-17 win over Laguna Creek of Elk Grove last Friday. The week prior, Modesto knocked off Stagg 28-6 and opened the season with a 44-7 loss to Reno, a 4A Northern school in Nevada.
“They also know, especially the veteran guys, we’ve played Stagg every year for a while now, they bring it on every play,” Sperling said. “They run a lot of different looks. They run wildcat, pistol, so the main thing for our guys definitely is alignment and assignment. Make sure you’re lined up in the right spot, and don’t give up the big play. They want to try to get their athletes in space. I don’t blame them, I would, too. On our side, defensively, we want to take that away.”
Moving the ball on the ground is what the Flames plan to do on offense. But moving the pigskin by other means is also part of their game plan when needed.
“Really, our game plan hasn’t changed, which is to run the ball effectively, which keeps their offense off the field,” Sperling said. “Even if you play great defense, they have so many weapons, they’re going to make a play. So eliminate their chances.”
Preparing one day sooner is something Sperling, his assistant coaches and their players have done this week.
“I’d be lying if I said a day less of preparation,” said Sperling, “but like we told the team, Stagg is going through the same thing. Don’t make excuses. But this team’s got the attitude. They don’t care, we’ll play them Wednesday if they have to. Wherever, whenever, we’ll be ready. That’s the attitude you want. It’s contagious.”