After a loss to Independence on Sept. 26, the Redhawks football team hopes to turn things around Thursday at 7 p.m. when they take on Emerson at Kuykendal Stadium.

“They’re obviously a big name school,” head football coach Matt Swinnea said. “If you look at them, they’re really good, especially, you know, defensively, they are very aggressive. And so you know, offensively, we’re going to have to do a great job of, you know, staying on our blocks.”

Sophomore Ian Williams is nervous to take on the Mavericks due to the other school’s status as a state semifinalist last year with a district record of 2-1 this year.

“Obviously they are a big football school which can be a little nerve racking,” Williams said. “But we just need to go out there and do our job.”

Nevertheless, coach Swinnea believes he and the team have the winning strategy.

“You control the clock, and so we’re gonna have to run the football,” Swinnea said. “We’re gonna have to make them run the football. And then, not turn the ball over and try to keep it close so we have a shot.”