By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
July 24, 2004
If Northeast Lauderdale is to finish off a handful of opponents who slipped away in 2003, the Trojans will have to hit the road to do it.
Northwest Rankin, Newton County and Neshoba Central each outpaced Northeast Lauderdale late in their games last season, and each of the three schools will host the Trojans during the upcoming season.
The matchups are three of the six road games on Northeast Lauderdale's 10-game schedule. None of the four home games falls in consecutive weeks.
All 10 of the Trojans' opponents in 2003 are back on the team's 2004 slate. A year ago, Northeast Lauderdale went 4-6 in the regular season before advancing to the second round of the playoffs. NEL won its playoff opener 41-20 over Gautier before losing 27-14 to Lawrence County.
Arguably the two toughest opponents on the schedule Wayne County and West Jones both visit Northeast Lauderdale for the Trojans' final two home games. Wayne County visits on Oct. 8, and West Jones comes for the regular-season finale on Oct. 29.
Northeast Lauderdale's other two home games are on Sept. 3 against Southeast Lauderdale and Sept. 24 against Florence. The Trojans topped both Southeast Lauderdale and Florence in 2003.
The game against county rival Southeast Lauderdale will be the first road game for newly-annointed Tigers coach Ty Trahan.
Of the four regular-season wins Northeast Lauderdale picked up in 2003 Southeast Lauderdale, Northeast Jones, Florence and Mendenhall two of those opponents visit the Trojans at home and two will host Northeast Lauderdale.
The Trojans open the 2004 season on Aug. 27 at Northwest Rankin.