The AGWSR Cougars football team will make the trip up Highway 65 this week to Mason City to take on Newman Catholic.
The Cougars (1-6) lost last week to BCLUW, 17-14, after a late field goal put the game out of reach. AGWSR enters this week missing several key players due to injury. Despite the setbacks, Head Coach James Koop remains optimistic about this week’s matchup.
“If we could get all of our starters best for four quarters for every play, I think something crazy can happen,” Koop says. “And I just mean crazy because somebody would look at our record against Mason City Newman and Newman’s record and say, there’s no chance for the Cougars.”
Koop’s optimism isn’t unfounded. Two of the Cougars’ losses have been decided by eight points or fewer. As the regular season winds down, Koop says the team’s goal is to put everything together for 48 minutes.
“Next week’s another opportunity against a really, really good opponent to try to bring our best game of the year,” Koop says. “So that’s what our goal is going to be.”
The Knights (4-3) have secured a postseason berth and enter the game on a three-game winning streak.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Newman Catholic High School in Mason City.
Full interview Head Coach James Koop;
