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10/09/2006: "Thunderbirds vs Lumberjacks: Preview"

Thunderbirds vs Lumberjacks: Preview
TBirds visit the Lumberjacks
Heather Reinhart
2006-07-26
 The Central Minnesota Thunderbirds will hope to make it two wins in a row when they travel to Richfield on Saturday for a battle with the Minneapolis Lumberjacks.
 The Thunderbirds improved to 1-1 when they beat the Superior Stampede 21-0 last weekend with the help of a strong passing game. The team struggled with its running game, partially because two of its starting linemen were unable to play due to prior commitments.
 It was hoped that the team would have its complete offensive line back in time for the Lumberjacks game, but Coach Chad Baldwin said that probably won\'t be the case. While those who were missing last week will be back, others have since sustained minor injuries and will likely have to sit out on Saturday.
 "We\'ll see what happens," Baldwin said.
 The T-Birds will also be without offensive coordinator Terry Stark on Saturday, which Baldwin said is his biggest concern at the moment.
 "There are a lot of unknowns right now with our team," he said, adding that he isn\'t sure who will do the offensive play-calling in Stark\'s absence. "I will know more after practice this week."
 The Thunderbirds are scheduled to hold a team practice Wednesday night and it is hoped that all of the questions will be answered at that time.
 The strengths of the Lumberjacks, who are 2-1 this season, come from their linebackers and backfield.
 "They\'ve definitely stacked themselves up pretty well," Baldwin said.
 The Thunderbirds will not be adding any new plays or making any major changes prior to Saturday\'s game.
 "We stay pretty consistent with what we\'ve done because that\'s what the guys know," Baldwin said. "We\'ve got to just go out there and play."
 Baldwin said that after teams work the kinks out in the first few games, the battles become a test of which team has the better game plan and can execute it the best.
 "Last year our scheme proved to be more successful than theirs, and we hope that\'s the case again," Baldwin said. "It\'s going to be a battle of two really good teams. It could go either way."
 Saturday\'s game will be played at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.