Lanier quarterback KeDarius Humphries hopes to lead the Poets to their first win of the season on Thursday. (Staff Photo. For more photos, visit our photo gallery)

Staff Report
(Sept. 2, 2010)

The Sidney Lanier Poets open the home schedule on Thursday, facing one of two teams they defeated in 2009, Benjamin Russell. Both teams are coming off tough losses.

Angelo Wheeler will attempt to get his first win as the new Lanier coach.

"We have some work to do but I like the fact that we played hard," Wheeler said. "We’ve got a lot of mistakes to take care of."

Benjamin Russell gave up a long touchdown run on the second play in the loss to Tallassee last week but settled down defensively. According to Danny Horn, the Wildcats missed out on key opporturnities.

"We created turnovers but only got the one score from them," he said. "We looked OK at times but I saw some similarities in how we played last year."

The game will be broadcast live on NetAl.com. Click to watch.

Thursday’s box

Benjamin Russell at Sidney Lanier(7 p.m., Cramton Bowl)
Radio/TV: NETAL.com (click)
Last meeting: Lanier 12, Ben Russell 7 (2009)
Last week: Enterprise 49, Lanier 21; Tallassee 19, Ben Russell 17
2010 Records: Lanier 0-1; Ben Russell 0-1
2009 Records: Lanier 2-8; Ben Russell 1-9
Key stat: In the loss to Enterprise, Lanier gave up 415 yards in rushing. Ben Russell gave up 130 yards in rushing to Tallassee but 71 yards came on one play (a touchdown).
Outlook: Lanier provided plenty of offensive punch in the loss to Enterprise last week as well as resolve in fighting back from a two-score deficit. But, as new coach Angelo Wheeler stated in the preseason, the lack of depth proved to be a demise. The Poets will face a tougher defense this week but should have enough to earn Wheeler’s first victory as Lanier’s coach.

Prediction: Lanier 20, Ben Russell 14