GAME OF THE WEEK: Forget the records

Waynesboro football coach Steve Isaacs does not care who is coming to Waynesboro tonight.

Robert E. Lee will take the field with a 5-1 record against the Giants, who have fallen to 1-4 this season.

But during practice this week, the second-year coach spouted off college football teams that that had huge upsets and he hopes that will encourage his squad.

“I don’t care what team is coming here,” Isaacs said. “Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama last year and they were 37 half-point underdogs. Appalachian State beat Michigan last year. That’s how we will approach it.”

Isaacs is aware of the odds, but he still has faith his team can come through.

“We are underdogs, and we know that, and we will prepare for it like any other game,” Isaacs said.

Lee coach David Tibbs disagreed about the use of the word underdog.

“Underdog is what the people in the media call it. They [Giants] want to win just as much as we do,” Tibbs said. “We are big rivals, and like I said before, I don’t approach this game any differently.”

The Giants have a young team and the defense is still wobbly. They need to come together quickly to contain Dae’ Quan Scott and running back Terrell Mickens.

The Giants played Rockbridge last week and allowed 45 first-half points in Lexington.

“We know we got to stop Scott and their jet-sweep. There’s no secret to whatcha have to do. I say they’ll be in a foul frame of mind now that TA has knocked them off,” Isaacs said. “We can’t worry about them, we just have to prepare that’s all we can do. We just have to tackle to win. I don’t care who the running backs are.”

The Leemen played on Monday night because their original game slated for Sept. 26 was rained out. The Knights went on to win the game on Monday 31-28, but Tibbs said his team was still solid.

“Playing two games this week will not bother us. I don’t think it will slow us down either. We still had a full practice schedule this week,” Tibbs said.

Isaacs will not let his team’s record deflect the amount of effort they have put in to the season or tonight’s game.

“I would be insulted if someone thought otherwise. I know what may have been said outside and off this practice field,” Isaacs said. “But I challenge anybody who thinks that these kids have quit or their doing anything less then their best to prepare.”