HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: CORNING SET FOR ROAD MATCHUP AT U-E (2024-09-20)

Southern Tier Sports Report
The season couldn’t have started better for Corning last week as they took the opening kick-off back for a score in a win over Edison Tech.

Now the Hawks go on the road against Union-Endicott this week.

“Was a great start to the season,” Corning coach Mike Johnston Jr. said. “We worked hard the four weeks prior leading up to the season opener and it paid off. Running back the opening kickoff really changed the whole complexion of the game from the get go and instilled more confidence in our players.”

The Hawks learned a lot about the team last week.

“The sudden change has a huge impact on the game of football,” Johnston  said. “We ran back the opening kickoff, recovered several fumbles and had two pick six’s in the game. We preached conditioning and eliminating the mistakes as keys to winning any week ne game.”

It was back to work for the Hawks to prepare for this week.

“We emphasized the fundamentals this week, cleaned up mistakes from film, installed a solid game plan that we are confident in,” Johnston Jr. said. They say that you improve most from week one to week two and that’s our expectation.”

The Hawks know they face a tough test this week.

“U-E is very well coached,” Johnston Jr. said. “They have skilled players all over the field. Their quarterback is a great athlete and keeps plays alive with their feet, so we must contain them. Up front they have really good size and their younger kids have shown great improvement each week. U-E has played really good competition week 0 against Maine-Endwell and week 1 vs. Owego, so we know that they are battle tested against two of the best teams in Section IV.”

The Hawks know they have to play good, fundamental football this week.

“Offensively we need to execute to perfection,” Johnston Jr. said. “Play to the whistle, secure the ball, be physical up front. Defensively we need to align properly vs. UE’s formations, execute our assignments and trust that our teammates will do their jobs. Be great tacklers, gang tackle, contain their QB, be aggressive and make plays like we did in game one.”
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STSR FILE PHOTO

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