5-0 WR hosts Elkhart

A week off to heal and rest, and likely not reflecting on their accomplishments, is behind them and now the District 19-2A schedule awaits the undefeated West Rusk High School football program.

West Rusk (5-0) will host Elkhart this Friday night at 7:30 p.m., and it's homecoming.

Homecoming can be a distraction for many, but not so for the Raiders. Head coach John Frazier won't let it.

"It can be a distraction," the coach said, "because there are so many things going on. But I've explained to the kids that everybody has a role this week. The band has a role. The cheerleaders have a role. The fans have a role. And we've got a role, just one: that's to win the football game. Nobody wants to come back to their high school and watch the Raiders lose this football game. Our objective is to win it."

The Raiders will face an Elkhart team that hasn't been perfect through its first five games, but has won three of them.

Frazier, who is 11-4 since taking over the WR program, was impressed with Elkhart on film.

"They're short on numbers, and I think that's hurting them because of some injuries they've had," he said. "They do play awfully hard. They run the ball well, and that's because they've got a big offensive line. They're a good fundamental team."

The off-week for the Raiders helped, Frazier said.

"We did have a good off week," he said. "We let the kids off and didn't use pads over the week. I think Tuesday and Wednesday were two of the best practices we've had all year."

The Raiders will likely try to give the Elks a heavy dose of their power running game. West Rusk has scored 150 points this season (most recently a blowout home win over Queen City), and their offense has been geared toward running the ball hard.

The Raiders have amassed 1,809 rushing yards and have scored 20 touchdowns. Pacing them is senior Daniel Thompson, who has 781 yards and eight scores through five games, on pace for a 1,300-plusyard season. And he's averaging 10 yards per carry.

Josh Patin has 432 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Santos Gonzales has 106 yards and three scores.

Following the homecoming game against Elkhart, West Rusk hosts Frankston (Oct. 17), visits Garrison (Oct. 24), hosts Troup (Oct. 31) and then finishes the regular season with a showdown with Arp (Nov. 7, at Arp).