JOHNSTON — The Newberry Bulldogs continue their playoff march tonight at 7:30 against the Strom Thurmond Rebels.
En route to Johnston the Bulldogs will step over the Mid-Carolina Rebels who fell to Strom Thurmond 45-13 in the first round.
“They’re a good football team. They have a lot of weapons on both sides of the ball,” said Newberry head coach Phil Strickland.
In particular Strickland said his squad needs to watch out for the Rebels’ receivers, to whom frequent screens are thrown, as well as their linebackers.
“If we don’t pick up their linebackers we’re going to have a tough night,” he said.
Last week the Bulldogs got off to a hot start against Pendleton with a couple of big plays early, but cooled off as the night wore on.
The key to a Newberry victory this week, Strickland believes, is to “sustain, maintain and block.”
And though the contest will be settled far from the Bulldog’s home base, Strickland seemed undaunted by the prospect of an away battle.
“I feel like we play pretty good on the road,” he said. “I think our players understand that the dimensions of the field are the same anywhere you play.”
Should they prevail, Newberry will face the victor of Woodruff vs. Fairfield Central next week in the semi-finals.