It doesn’t get any easier for the Mahar football team, as the Senators host Frontier Regional on Friday.
Mahar (0-3) will have to be close to perfect against the Red Hawks, and so far this season, the Senators have had their opportunities to get victories.
But mistakes have plagued Mahar: a penalty in the red zone, a bad snap or simply turnovers.
“That’s been our problem,” Mahar coach Jim Woodward said. “It happened in the first game, it happened in the second game and in the third game it happened.”
Mahar’s offense moved the ball into the red zone twice last week against Athol, but came away with nothing. That also happened against McCann Tech in the first game of the year.
Against Easthampton, a gassed Mahar team let a 14-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter.
The Senators defense was stout last week against Athol, but special teams was the difference in a 16-0 loss to the Red Raiders. On two occasions the Senators let Mason Barrieau get the sideline for gashing runs.
“Defensively all three games we have been playing very well,” Woodward said. “This week we will have our hands full.”
Frontier (2-1, 1-0 Intercounty North) has size and power of the line, and its power running game will present a lot of problems for the undersized Senators.
“They are just big and they bully you.” Woodward said. “They just pack everyone in and push you out of the way. They just hold their ground and push them backwards and we are not that big.”
Matt Hildreth has played well under center for the Red Hawks along with running back Garrett DeForest.
DeForest had a 200-yard game against Palmer. The Red Hawks loss was to Pittsfield, 30-8 in their season opener.
Jon Gariepy could be limited in the game with an upper-body injury for the Senators. The running back had an issue during the Athol game but played through it.
“Today he could be 100 percent better,” Woodward said Thursday. “I don’t know.”
The defense has worked on getting penetration against the Red Hawks’ offensive line and making things happen in the backfield.
A lot could ride on the arm of Aydan Sevigny on Friday. The same goes for fullbacks Lucas Seney and Joey Brozell.
Sevigny can make the throws for Mahar, but has been inconsistent.
“He’s either on 100 percent, or off 100 percent,” Woodward said. “He’s a sophomore.”
If Gariepy is limited, it will be up to Sevigny, Seney and Brozell to carry the Senators against the Red Hawks.
“On offense we just have to find something that works,” Woodward said.
