Unbeatens to collide at Skiles

Daily Globe Sports Editor

It’s no secret two really good football teams will square off Friday night at W.W. Skiles Field at William J. Wilkins Stadium when Lucas invades Shelby for a battle of state-ranked, unbeaten teams in a non-conference affair.

This will mark the first time ever the two schools from Richland

County have met on the gridiron.

The Cubs, under coach Scott Spitler, come in with a gaudy resume.

Lucas has been a playoff participant the past six seasons and a year ago they were the state runner-up in Division VII, falling to perennial power Marion Local in the title game by a 28-6 count.

This year the Cubs are off to a 4-0 start and ranked second in the latest state poll among Division VII schools. Likewise, the Whippets are 4-0, and they come in at No. 12 in this week’s Division IV state balloting.

“They’re well coached,” assured SHS coach Rob Mahaney. “Coach Spitler has done a phenomenal job of taking a program over and building it into what it is.”

Lucas is known for their ‘ground and pound’ running attack, but pay too much attention to the ground game and they’re more than capable than inflicting damage through the air, noted Mahaney.

“It’s different,” said Mahaney of the Cubs ground attack. “Double tight, double wing, they’re going to find as many ways to run power and buck sweeps at you. They like to pull as many people as they can and get as many guys to the point of attack as possible.”

Mahaney said in a 35-21 win over Marion Pleasant, the Cubs made the Spartans pay by going to the air.

“Pleasant committed so much to the run — 10 guys — that it created a lot of openings behind it. They are 90 percent run… power, power, power and all of the sudden fake the run and get the tight end or wing up the seam and hit you through the air,” said Mahaney.

On defense, Lucas plays a 3-4 alignment with a cover four shell behind it. The coach said the Cubs do a good job of pursuing the football.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.