The Douglas football team will be making one of the shortest game-to-game turnarounds in recent memory, getting only three days to prepare for a home matchup with South Tahoe Thursday afternoon.
The good news is, South Tahoe will be making the same turnaround.
Both teams played Saturday afternoon, with the Tigers suffering a 47-13 loss to Manogue and the Vikings topping Fallon 28-20. Both returned to practice Monday afternoon and will get just three workouts before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Keith "Duke" Roman Field Thursday.
Injury-plagued Douglas is coming off one of its worst defensive games in years, during which the Manogue ran for 470 yards as a team and rolled up a total of 556 yards.
The Tigers had defensive linemen Robbie O'Dell and Ryan Moglich shaken up and starting linebacker Johnny Pollack was saved for the offensive side of the ball as he comes back from a groin injury.
Douglas (6-2, 4-1 Sierra League) also saw leading receiver Zach McFadden go down with a knee injury, although early reports say it was just a strain and that he could be back for the Carson game next week.
"It's a test of character," Douglas coach Mike Rippee said after the Manogue game. "We've got more guys down, but what are you going to do? Feel sorry for ourselves? I don't think South Tahoe will feel sorry for us. We just have to step up and rise to this challenge."
Douglas' Tim Rudnick is in the thick of chasing several school passing records and has amassed 1,901 yards through the air with 17 touchdown passes.
Tanner Thomas emerged as his top target in McFadden's absence, catching five passes for 108 yards against Manogue. Sophomore Austin Neddenreip caught five passes for 48 yards as well.
Barron Santiago has been carrying the bulk of the load in the backfield since Pollack's injury and has 40 carries for 268 yards and three touchdowns this season. Pollack has 831 yards on the ground to go with five touchdowns and has also caught 10 passes for 103 yards.
South Tahoe (2-6, 2-3 Sierra League) is coming off its second win of the season.
Quarterback Will Ervin is one of the top passers in the region with 886 yards and 10 touchdown passes this season
Chris Klug (17 catches, 427 yards) and Garrett Tinlin (24 catches, 319 yards) have been his top targets.
South Tahoe hasn't been able to mount much of a ground game this season as Eric Taylor is the team leader with 107 yards and a touchdown.
Douglas' pass defense has been solid this season, allowing 138 yards per game. Thomas, Nico Barker, Davey Fisher and Brad Gonzales are the starters in the defensive backfield.
