Lodi Flames looking to spoil Galt Warriors' home opener

In Week 1, the Lodi High football team got a glimpse of what quarterback Collin Rhoads and the Flame offense is capable of.

Galt proved its defense is stingy and hard-hitting in the Warriors' season-opener.

Now the two teams will see what they can do against each other as Galt hosts Lodi in a preseason showdown at 7:15 p.m. at Warrior Stadium.

With Rhoads running the option, Lodi dominated possession and took a 10-7 first-half lead last week, before being shutdown by a tough Sheldon defense that led the Huskies to a 25-10 win. The Warriors denied McNair's ground game and shut out the Eagles 25-0.

Lodi head coach Todd Dillon said the Flames worked hard at practice this week, focusing on working as a team and making sure they follow through on their assignments. Despite having a young line on both sides of the ball, Dillon is optimistic, it can learn quickly and build from its mistakes.

"We had a good week of practice," he said. "We have good leaders who are stepping up and nobody is pushing the panic button yet."

Galt head coach Rich Maberto said he knows Rhoads and Lodi junior running back Jordan Perkins are big weapons on Lodi's offense. He's hoping his defense can play as well as it did against McNair and not let Rhoads and Perkins rattle off big plays. He would also like to see his offense put together longer, more sustained drives after relying on big plays last week.

"The defense played great, but the offense got bogged down a little bit," Maberto said of the game against McNair. "We need to work on moving the chains and moving the ball down the field."

Today's game will be Maberto's first as head coach of his alma mater in front of the Galt home crowd. He said he and the Warriors are excited for their home debut.

Dillon just wants to see his Flames play like they did in the first two frames last week. While some players were banged up against Sheldon, like Perkins and fellow running back Alex Santiago, Dillon said the Flames are healthy and ready for the Warriors.

"We need to control the ball offensively just like we did in the first half against Sheldon," Dillon said. "Galt is a good team. It will be a good game."

Elliot at Turlock Christian

After a 34-14 loss in its opener to Delta last week, the young Elliot Christian football team will be looking to build on the experience it gained in the opener as it travels to play Turlock Christian in an all-Eagle showdown at 7 p.m.

Elliot went on an 80-yard touchdown-scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter of the game to pull within seven points at 21-14, but couldn't shutdown Delta in the final minutes.

This week, Elliot running back Russell Hausauer will be looking to improve the Eagles' ground game, which gained only 93 yards last week. Elliot's inexperienced offense also turned the ball over three times, which is the same amount of turnovers Turlock forced last week.

Turlock will be looking to quarterback Robbie Smallwood to lead the squad after he completed 8 of 15 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-12 victory over Big Valley Christian last week.

Week 2 kickoffs

Lodi at Galt
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Where: Warrior Stadium, Galt.
Records: Lodi (0-1); Galt (1-0).
Last meeting: Lodi defeated Galt 34-18 with help from running back Jordan Perkins, who carried the ball 33 times for 243 yards and two TDs.
Key matchups: Lodi's offense, with Collin Rhoads running the option and Perkins and Alex Santiago taking most the carries in the backfield, against a Galt defense that posted a shutout last week and hit McNair for 14 plays for negative yardage, including seven sacks.
Notes: The Flames have won the last four Lodi-Galt showdowns. ... The two teams didn't play in 2004. ...Haran Piggee led the Warriors last week with 11 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown.

Elliot at Turlock Christian
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Turlock Christian.
Records: Elliot (0-1); Turlock Christian (1-0).
Last meeting: Turlock Christian QB Robbie Smallwood completed 18 of 25 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns, as Turlock defeated Elliot 40-20 last year.
Key matchups: Turlock's Smallwood, who threw for three TDs last week, vs. Elliot's defense. Another key element will be turnovers, as three interceptions hurt Elliot last week.
Notes: Turlock Christian beat Big Valley Christian 33-12 last week. ... Elliot fell to Delta 34-14 in its opener, despite putting together a solid forth-quarter drive that pulled the Eagles within seven at 21-14 halfway through the final frame.

Week 2 prep football schedule

Today's games
Lodi at Galt, 7:15 p.m.
Elliot Christian at Turlock Christian, 7 p.m.
Stagg at Franklin of Stockton, 7 p.m.
East Union at Bear Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Chavez at Madera, 7:30 p.m.
Edison at Lincoln, 7:15 p.m.
McNair at Antioch, 7:15 p.m.
Bellarmine at St. Mary's, 7 p.m.
West at California (San Ramon), 7 p.m.
Manteca at Tracy, 7:30 p.m.
Vista del Lago at Casa Robles, 7 p.m.
Cordova at El Camino, 7:30 p.m.
Ponderosa at Nevada Union, 7:15 p.m.
Union Mine at Rio Linda, 7:30 p.m.
Oak Ridge at Folsom, TBA

Saturday's game
S.J. Memorial at Christian Brothers, 2:15 p.m.

Reader Feedback

justabystander wrote on Sep 19, 2009 9:33 PM:

" Do you have to see the film? The film that showed the coach at the north end of the sideline making a "T" sign with his hands while wearing a white polo with Lodi on it while standing on the Lodi sideline. "

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flamefan wrote on Sep 19, 2009 9:31 AM:

" bystader you are out of your mind have you ever watched a football game in your life. Galt took the timeouts. O thats right your from galt sorry "

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Galtguy wrote on Sep 19, 2009 5:43 AM:

" Flamefan-

Galt = Winners

Lodi = Losers

Nuff said. "

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justabystander wrote on Sep 19, 2009 12:03 AM:

" OK nimrod........Lodi took both timeouts....watch the White Hat and he will clue you in. "

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flamefan wrote on Sep 18, 2009 10:54 PM:

" Ok great win Galt. Congrats. O and way to show alot of class taking two timeouts with thirty seconds left to run up score. Karma will even that score someday. Now as for Lodi stellar defense. Two of Galts touchdowns were gifts from our horrid play calling on offense and the third was after game was decided. The Flames offense and play calling is terrible and we deserve to be o and 2 if that is how they are going to run the offense. I can only hope Lodi will try to make some drastic changes in their offense or this is going to be a long year. God I hope Joey isnt hurt bad so the baseball team doesnt have to suffer also. "

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flamefan wrote on Sep 18, 2009 4:19 PM:

" Ok Galtguy will we see that result in the Galt gazzet o Im sorry I forgot its "Galt". Guess this is the highlight of your year huh? "

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weezer wrote on Sep 18, 2009 3:46 PM:

" Is it...

Warriors Extinguish Flames

or

Flames Burn Warriors? "

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Galtguy wrote on Sep 18, 2009 3:20 PM:

" Nellie-

I too saw a button on the wall, know what it said?

LODI SUCKS "

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Galtguy wrote on Sep 18, 2009 3:19 PM:

" Here it is Ladies and Gents...

Galt 21 - Lodi 17

Remember on Monday where you heard it first. "