Douglas High’s Trace Estes stiff-arms a Reno defender for extra yards Friday at Reno High. Estes has been the Tigers’ leading wide out this season with 170 yards receiving.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
What to know
What: Galena (3-1, 1-0) at Douglas (1-3, 0-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Douglas High School
One of Douglas High football’s biggest tests this week will be trying to get the sour taste out of its mouth after a 53-7 defeat at Reno High on Friday.
The Tigers were missing a handful of starters and have had to deal with injuries to open the season.
“We just are trying to get better. We’re trying to move in the right direction and try to get kids healthy,” said Douglas head coach Kyle Mays.
Douglas had 27 players available last week against the Huskies and more knicks and bruises piled up in the loss.
However, there’s no time for the Tigers to rest and heal as Galena comes to town Friday for Douglas’ homecoming game.
Last week, the Grizzlies picked up their first league win since 2019, defeating Carson 27-10.
“It’s a tough hurdle, but everyone deals with injuries,” added Mays.
Offensive and defensive lineman Ayden Kizer has been ruled out for Friday’s contest while fellow senior Jacob Brady is expected back in the lineup after missing last week with a concussion.
Sizing up Galena
It won’t be a Grizzly team that many fans are used to seeing.
There’s no doubt around the North that Galena is much improved from year’s past.
In the win over Carson, quarterback Ben Primka (No. 9) threw for 146 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 40 yards on five carries.
His backfield helped out as Joseph Czyz (11) and Colson Kermode (2) rushed for 101 and 48 yards, respectively.
It was Kermode who found pay dirt, carrying the ball into the end zone twice.
Galena turned the ball over five times against Carson, including three interceptions and two fumbles lost, potentially giving the Tiger defense a chance to help its offense Friday.
“They’re physical and they play passionately,” said Mays of Galena. “You can tell (Primka) is starting to get really comfortable in that offense.”
Douglas’ leading tackler, Cole Smalley, has been battling an ankle injury, but Mays said it’ll take quite a bit to keep his junior captain sidelined Friday.
Through four games, Smalley has 59 tackles, which leads the state. His total puts him tied for 27th in the nation in total tackles as of Monday.
Getting the offense going will be a priority for the Tigers after posting just seven points last week.
Connor Jackson, who had 107 yards and a touchdown against the Huskies, has put together 100-yard rushing performances in three of four games this season.
It will also be crucial for the Tigers to not let the second quarter get away from them, which has been the issue each of the last two weeks.
“The game of football is won and lost in the trenches and in the last two weeks we have not handled that very well,” said Mays.
