TEXARKANA, Texas - Liberty-Eylau could have the cards stacked against it when the Leopards invade Tiger Stadium at Grim Park tonight.
Amid their brutal nondistrict schedule, the Leopards play their second of three intra-city rivalry games when they take on Texas High. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
"We understand the rivalry aspect to this game," Liberty-Eylau head coach Klint King said. "Rivalry games are always fun from that aspect but at the same time it's a football game. We have to treat everything the same and we have to make sure we come out executing."
The Leopards come into tonight's game 0-2 with an opening loss to Arkansas High, which the Tigers beat 28-7 last week, and a lopsided loss at Carthage last week.
Texas High is 1-1 and has won every meeting between the schools since the series resumed in 2016. THS won last year's game, 47-35.
"One of the biggest things is we need to keep our focus on us and not get caught up in the emotions of a rivalry game; it's a big rivalry," Texas High coach Gerry Stanford said. "We've got to continue to focus on our effort and our execution. It's a long season.
"As far as Xs and Os, we've got to clean up some third-down stuff on offense and some situational things on defense. And penalties, overall. We've had 42 points taken off the board this year because of penalties."
The Tigers are averaging 251 yards of rushing and 370 yards of total offense through two games.
Liberty-Eylau, which struggled against Carthage last week, is averaging 194 yards of total offense.
"We have to be disciplined and we have to do or job," King said. "That's our main focus right now, is doing your job. If everyone does that to the best of their ability, we're going to be successful. That's our focus right now and we have to do whatever we need to do in order to be successful. There aren't any shortcuts."
Tracy Cooper leads THS' ground attack with 353 yards on 55 totes and has three touchdowns - all the TDs in last week's game.
The tandem of Korbyn White and Damian Henderson have combined for five touchdowns, all but one via the rush. White caught a 50-yard score last week.
"Liberty-Eylau's overall team speed can create problems; you've got to know where a lot of their playmakers are not he field at all times," Stanford said. "They've got some guys who are explosive at any point in the game. Defensively, they do a really good job of running to the football and playing physical.
"They've got a good ball club. Coach King is doing a phenomenal job taking over his first year. The dividends are paying off for them, even though their record may not indicate it, but you can see it on the field. It's going to be a great ball game."
The game will live blogged at www.texarkanagazette.com/thsvsle , and the radio broadcast will be on HITS 105.5 FM and KTXK 91.5 FM.