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By Mike Moore

Staff Writer

 

Jackson — There’s a chance here, and for Corey Slater and his guys, that’s all they can ask.

 

A chance to get the season back on track.

 

A chance to grab the first win after two rough setbacks.

 

A chance to finally play a home game, and put on a show in front of the 2016 Homecoming crowd.

 

For Slater and his Northwest football team, the chance comes Friday night against Hastings.

 

“We want to get that first win, get these kids feeling good about themselves,” Slater said late Wednesday night. “Our motto is to play one drive, one quarter, one half and one game. This is a group that is resilient and ready for this challenge.”

 

The Mounties opened the 2016 season with a 20-17 loss at Eaton Rapids, and then last week, were no match for Battle Creek Harper Creek in a 35-0 defeat.

 

“In that Eaton Rapids game, we did some things to self implode a few times,” Slater said. “In the Harper Creek game, we lost to a good team. That’s a force to be reckoned with, really. Now it’s on us to limit mistakes and take care of the football and make something happen.”

 

At 0-2, Northwest plays its first home game of the year against a Hastings team that’s also winless in two tries.

 

The Saxons lost to Lake Odessa Lakewood 38-22 in the opener, before falling to Lumen Christi last week in a 41-14 route.

 

“We watched two game films on them,” Slater said of Hastings. “In one, they were a spread team, then they’d go to a wing-T. I think if they feel they can be more athletic, they will spread you out. So we have to be ready for both on the defensive end.”

 

On offense, Slater said it’s a matter of finishing what’s presented.

 

The Mounties have scored 17 points in two weeks, though they’ve had numerous other chances to add to that total.

 

“It starts with taking care of the ball,” Slater said. “We’ve also gotten into way too many third-and-longs. And we have to finish drives. We had some chances against Eaton Rapids late, and we fumbled. It’s little things like that.”

 

Little things that could add up to a big thing — winning.

 

Northwest narrowly missed the playoffs in 2013, finishing with a 5-4 record.

 

Since then, the program has gone 2-17.

 

Starting this season with a win in the first third of the schedule would do wonders for Slater’s guys, the coach said.

 

“The kids are going to be up for the game,” he added. “This is a great group. They will be ready to go. They won’t need any extra motivation.”

Mortgage 1 Jackson

Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’

Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.

Visit http://lovedefinedbook.weebly.com for more information.

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