Warren Lumberjack head football coach Bo Hembree emphasized the need for greater consistency and improved execution as his team prepares to face Star City on Friday night in 8-4A Conference action.
During this week’s edition of the Johnny’s Radiator Shop Bo Show with Saline River News, Hembree reflected on Warren’s 55-13 loss to Hamburg last Friday, pointing to turnovers, defensive struggles and missed opportunities as factors in the defeat.
Hembree acknowledged that the Lumberjacks did not perform at the level they are capable of playing. Turnovers proved particularly costly, while the offense struggled to finish drives without making mistakes.
Defensively, Warren had difficulty getting off the field, particularly in third-and-long situations when the Lumberjacks had opportunities to force punts. Those missed chances allowed Hamburg to extend drives and maintain offensive momentum.
Hembree also credited Hamburg for its strong performance, particularly at quarterback. Hamburg’s signal-caller completed 13 of 18 passes against the Warren defense, exposing weaknesses in the Lumberjacks’ pass coverage at critical moments.
A recurring theme in Hembree’s assessment was Warren’s youth and the inconsistency that has accompanied it. The Lumberjacks have relied heavily on underclassmen this season, including 13 combinations involving sophomore players. That inexperience has contributed to uneven performances as younger players continue adjusting to varsity competition.
While Warren’s kicking game has generally been a positive throughout the season, Hembree indicated that kickoff coverage was not as effective as it needed to be against Hamburg.
With the Hamburg game behind them, the Lumberjacks now turn their attention to a Star City team that relies primarily on running the football.
Hembree stressed that stopping the run will be a major priority for Warren’s defense. He also emphasized the importance of the team’s younger players continuing to develop and taking greater responsibility as the season progresses.
Despite the disappointment of last Friday’s loss, Hembree believes the Lumberjacks still have plenty to play for as the conference schedule continues.
For Warren, the focus now is on correcting mistakes, improving consistency on both sides of the football and approaching the remainder of the season one game at a time.
The Lumberjacks will travel to Star City on Friday, October 16, for their next 8-4A Conference matchup.
