Friday night will be a test for the Landrum football team.
The Cardinals will lock horns with Liberty, a battle of unbeatens. Landrum will find out how it stacks up against some fellow region foes in this game.
“It will be a big test,” Landrum head coach Russell Mahaffey said.
Liberty, like Landrum, is 4-0, but two of those wins have come against Christ Church and Blacksburg.
The Cardinals will open up region play next week, but this could definitely be a window into the region as to how they stack up.
The Red Devils beat Christ Church in their opening game this season 20-6. Liberty beat Blacksburg last week 34-6.
Liberty plays a double-wing offense and a shade defense that is designed to slow down the run.
They’ll need it on Friday night.
The Cardinals have been dominant on the ground and in the air. Senior quarterback Brandon Cannon has been nearly impossible to stop this season. He’s picked apart defenses with his arm and his legs.
But it doesn’t stop there for the Cardinals offense.
Cole McDowell has also proven to be a force on the ground. McDowell ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowns last week as the Cardinals beat Dixie on the road.
Jordan Lindsey and Peyton McCarter are legitimate threats to catch the ball and get yards after the catch at any moment.
On defense, the Cardinals have gotten strong play from Cannon, T.J. Fincher, Alex Bryant, Chasten Thomas and Ryan Herbst. The Cardinals have been effective this season, sometimes dominant on defense.
“We will have to work hard to contain them,” Mahaffey said.
The Cardinal defense will be whole tonight for the first time this season. The defense has played well this season, but has done so without an integral part.
That’ll all change this week.
Kaleb Kuykendall, the big hitter on the Cardinal defense, will return. Landrum will need him because Liberty’s running game is strong.
Fans can expect a big one on Friday night when these unbeatens collide. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.