TIPTON - Despite the Tipton Cardinals' 2-5 start this season, coach Tony Braby said he feels the team is getting better every week.
Tonight, the Cardinals host winless Santa Fe as Tipton looks to get back on track following a 28-18 loss last Friday to Cole Camp.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
"Santa Fe needs to look out for a team that seems to have a very tough early schedule that has really helped them towards the end of the season with our running game and passing game," Braby said "We are getting better every week on both of those areas and we feel very comfortable throwing the ball at any time.
"The defense is good and solid. What we have to do now is make sure we play four quarters and don't beat ourselves with turnovers. We are a lot tougher than our record indicates."
Santa Fe struggled in its last game, a 49-0 loss to Lincoln. The Chiefs only had 48 yards of total offense.
Santa Fe is averaging 16.6 points a game but its defense is allowing 45 points a game. In all of their games, the Chiefs' opponents have scored at least 28 points.
This will be only the second game this season the Cardinals have played against an opponent with a losing record.
Braby said the Cardinals' game last week was a game of two halves. Cole Camp led at halftime 26-6, before Tipton battled back in the second half.
"We were just not in the game in the first half, making mental mistakes, not playing very good first half of football," Braby said. "We made some adjustments at half time and told the kids, 'Hey, this is Week 7. We should be playing a lot better than what we are.'
"We need to get some things straightened out and get back to doing what we know we are capable of doing."
Braby said the second half can create a lot of momentum for Tipton heading into this game. The team is pretty healthy, as Braby said they have not lost a starter yet due to injury.
Braby said a key to the game for the Cardinals will be not beating themselves and not be their own worst enemy.
"Taking care of the ball, not turning the ball over ourselves, but on the other hand we want to create some with good defensive plays," he said. "Special teams seem to have a big effect at this time of the year when you can execute things really well.
"There have been several times this year when we have been our own worst enemy and we have to get rid of that. Just get back to playing good fundamental football if we do the things we know we are capable of doing I think we have a good shot to be playing with them in the fourth quarter and hopefully come out with a win."
Tipton is currently the No. 3 seed in Class 1 District 5 with two games to go. Getting back in the win column could help the Cardinals improve to the No. 2 spot for Week 10.
Slater is second with 33.57 points, while Tipton is third with 28.38 and Sweet Springs is fourth with 28.26. If those seedings remain the same through Week 9, Tipton would move up one spot to No. 2 because of its head-to-head win earlier this season against Slater.