Pied Pipers Just 1 Win From District Title
By: Eric Boynton
Updated: November 7, 2012
Since starting off the season 0-2, the Hamlin Pied Pipers have rolled off seven straight wins. They now find themselves in a winner take all match-up against Albany for the district title on Friday. A game this young football team is, needless to say, looking forward too.
"As we said at the beginning of the year, we're so young. We have eight sophomores on our roster, and six of those play significantly. Those guys need to have some time to get used to the speed of the game. We knew that was going to be a concern. We weren't sure how they were going to progress, but we're really pleased with how they've grown up and developed as players," said head coach Russell Lucas.
"Coming into two-a-days it was kind of nerve racking having so many young guys. They're going to make mistakes, and you just have to keep encouraging them. When they have to become starters; they have to come and play. They've gotten a lot better in themselves," said quarterback Taylor Lambert.
"This is an exciting time of year to have all of your guys healthy and playing their best. We feel we've gotten better everyweek. That's right when you want to be getting better is right here at the end, starting playoffs, and playing for a district championship. So, it's an exciting week to be in Hamlin," said Lucas.
"This has been the talk since we first got our district out that this is going to be the district championship game. I mean I'm nervous already, but I'm excited at the same time. Whatever the outcome is; the best team wins," said Lambert.
Albany may very well be Hamlin's toughest test of the season. They score plenty of points, and that means the Pipers defense is going to have to step-up. That also means Hamlin's offense is going to have to put up plenty of points for themselves.
Hamlin and Albany play on Friday night in Albany.
"As we said at the beginning of the year, we're so young. We have eight sophomores on our roster, and six of those play significantly. Those guys need to have some time to get used to the speed of the game. We knew that was going to be a concern. We weren't sure how they were going to progress, but we're really pleased with how they've grown up and developed as players," said head coach Russell Lucas.
"Coming into two-a-days it was kind of nerve racking having so many young guys. They're going to make mistakes, and you just have to keep encouraging them. When they have to become starters; they have to come and play. They've gotten a lot better in themselves," said quarterback Taylor Lambert.
"This is an exciting time of year to have all of your guys healthy and playing their best. We feel we've gotten better everyweek. That's right when you want to be getting better is right here at the end, starting playoffs, and playing for a district championship. So, it's an exciting week to be in Hamlin," said Lucas.
"This has been the talk since we first got our district out that this is going to be the district championship game. I mean I'm nervous already, but I'm excited at the same time. Whatever the outcome is; the best team wins," said Lambert.
Albany may very well be Hamlin's toughest test of the season. They score plenty of points, and that means the Pipers defense is going to have to step-up. That also means Hamlin's offense is going to have to put up plenty of points for themselves.
Hamlin and Albany play on Friday night in Albany.
