Gators tangle with Salem in the The Swamp
FOREMAN, Ark.—The stage is set and the players are ready.
Foreman (11-1) hosts Salem (9-4) at Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. in a Conference 2A semifinal playoff game.
“This is huge for our community,” Foreman head football coach Mark King said. “Our stadium is going to be packed for sure. It’s always good to play at home and we’re extremely excited to play in front of our community.” The Gators have run rampant over opponents this season, garnering over 4,300 yards as a team. Junior Kyren Batey has rushed for 1,687 and 29 touchdowns.
“We plan to keep the same game plan and hopefully we can execute what we’ve practiced this past week,” King said. “We’re going to run our triple option and not change for anybody. We work on every front, every day. That’s the beauty of this offense, we don’t have to change; you do.”
Foreman’s stingy defense led by seniors Brandon Thomas and Corey Lovell, has only given up 131 points this season.
“Coach Adrian Ivory has done a terrific job putting in a game plan for us,” King said. “We plan to do what we’ve done all season. We’re going to need all 11 guys flying to the ball and attacking when the ball is snapped.”
This game marks the Gators first appearance in the semifinals. Foreman has earned 13 postseason berths in the modern era since 1969 and getting past the first round just five times. The Gators reached the quarterfinals in 1987 and 2006.
“We’re looking forward to this game with Salem,” King said. “This is something the kids and our coaching staff have worked for all year long. Salem is in our way, so we’re going to have to go out Friday and take care of business.”
The winner will either play either Camden Harmony Grove or Mount Ida in the state championships in Little Rock on December 16.