Get better.
With the postseason looming on the horizon, that simple message is foremost in the minds of the Blair Oaks Falcons.
To that end, don't expect the Falcons to overlook the 1-7 Versailles Tigers when they come to the Falcon Athletic Complex for today's 7 p.m. contest.
"Improving on what we've done, that's the big key," Blair Oaks head coach Brad Drehle said.
The Falcons bring a mark of 6-2 into the game and are 4-2 in the Tri-County Conference. Versailles is 0-6 in league play.
"We try not to get into records too much," Drehle said. "It's just, they're the next one up. Our goal is to get better."
Versailles has scored just 84 points in eight games. The Tigers scored 26 of them in their only win of the year, a shutout victory defeat of Class 2 Knob Noster in the season opener. Knob Noster is 0-8 and has been outscored 285-40.
"They've got some kids that can do some things, but they're young," Drehle said. "... They do some good things, they just don't put them together. We've got to keep them there, we don't want them to put things together and get after us."
The Tigers have a playmaker in 6-foot-3 senior receiver Michael Allen, however, they skew 60 percent run, 40 percent pass in their attack.
"They kind of base out of a spread-option," Drehle said. "They'll run a little bit of power, a little bit of option. The Allen kid is probably their biggest threat, he's a big kid."
But don't be surprised if the Tigers flip the script and pass more than run.
"They try to scheme some things in each ballgame to give them a chance," Drehle said. "Some games they'll come out and throw the ball several times."
Either way, the key for the Blair Oaks defense is simple.
"The thing we want to do is be physical, stop plays as quick as we can," Drehle said.
The Blair Oaks defense has been an unsung hero this season, as the Falcons are giving up just 12.1 points per game.
"They're not unsung in our locker room, I can tell you that," Drehle said. "We've changed some of our thinking the way we attack certain things (on offense) because of what they've done. We're a little more conservative on fourth down than what we've been and we're choosing to defer and play defense beacause of what they do."
With standout returning defensive backs Mikel Drehle and Dominic Jamerson slowed by injuries this season, the defense has had other players step up.
"It's allowed C.J. (Closser) to develop, Adam Schell to develop," Brad Drehle said. "Chris Cooper has really flourished in this thing. Alex Gaydos has been a pleasant surprise.
"We feel pretty good about where we're headed, provided something else doesn't happen (injury-wise)."
The Versailles defense is giving up 40 points per game.
"They're going to base out of a 3-4 front and they'll slide it down to where it looks like a 5-2 depending on the formation you're in," Drehle said. "The linebackers are up in there tight and they'll play some man coverage.
"On offense, we want to be physical. We want to come downhill and run right at them. Try to take older kids against younger ones and be physical, that's our goal."
Drehle said he'd like to see the Tigers' growing pains continue for another week.
"They're trying to establish an identity, which I think they're doing, and trying to find what your kids do well, like any of us," he said. "The hard part is, when your kids are so young and you face some good teams in the Tri-County Conference, it's hard to gain that footing.
"It's hard sometimes for people on the outside and the kids to see the progress, but you can look at them and see they've made progress."
Notes: Blair Oaks has outscored opponents 270-97 to this point, and the numbers are most impressive in the second and third quarters. The Falcons have a 78-38 scoring edge in the first quarter, but it jumps to 106-27 in the second quarter and 59-9 in the third. The only period that's close is the fourth, where Blair Oaks has a 27-23 lead. ... The Falcons appear to have the No. 2 seed in districts sewn up. That would have Blair Oaks possibly hosting a pair of district games, and Drehle said he'd like to solidify that by winning today. "It's definitely big from that standpoint," he said. "You want your seniors to have a chance to play at home as much as you can, but the ultimate goal is to play as much as you can."
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