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Last week's loss to Madison was a bitter pill for Little Rock to swallow.
After spotting the Demons a TD when they returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for a score the Thunder worked it's way back into the game and we took a 27-14 lead into the half time break.
Everything seemed to be going well with the offense controlling the clock and the line of scrimmage as we ran for 159 yards on 20 carries in the first half.
But once again we found a way to lose with Gianettino throwing a pick 6 early in the third quarter and Little Rock's defense giving up another 20 points while our offense mustered just 3 in reply.
The only good news for us was that Newark came back with two late TDs to upset Texas and create a three-way tie for the NC South Division lead.
But for that to have any meaning we have to find a way to beat the Hoosier's Renegades in Houston and that won't be easy to do.
The biggest challenge in this game will be that Houston is one of the league's best at stopping what we do best: run the ball.
Over the last four games (3-1) Little Rock's running game has monstered opposing defenses with 748 yards at 5.62 yards a carry. Houston meanwhile has given up 914 yards in 12 games, a measly 76 yards a game at just 3.05 yards per carry.
One of us is in for a rude surprise and based on how this season has gone it's likely to be Little Rock.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Houston QB Damon Harris: Harris has gone 6-3 as a starter this year and is completing 73% of his passes at 8.29 yards per attempt and as far as the Renegades are concerened he is the heart and soul of their offense. After Harris was injured in Week 5 Houston was forced to start 3rd year pro Jordan Buckley and the team promptly went 0-3. Make no mistake about it, Houston needs Harris to play well if they want to keep their playpff hopes alive. While he is without top target WR Diego Griffith, who is still a couple of weeks away from returning to action after seperating his shoulder against Georgia in Week 12, with veterans William Meier and Reggie "All Day" Denning stepping up Harris has more than enough weapons at his disposal to inflict a world of pain on the Thunder.
Little Rock Running Game vs Houston Run Defense: Little Rock is averaging over 156 yards per game on the ground this year, more than double what Houston has been surrendering. For the Thunder to have a shot at winning we MUST be able to run the ball and dictate the pace of the game and to do that we have to find a way to neutralise MLB Thomas Plunkett and keep SS Marshall Diaz from crowding the line of scrimmage.
Little Rock QB Albert Gianettino: If our running game is shut down and we need to rely on Noodle-Arm it's going to be a long day for Little Rock.....
Point Spread:
Houston by 2
Head to Head:
This will be the 8th meeting of the teams and Little Rock leads the series 5-2.
Last Meeting:
Week 14, 2027: Little Rock 16 def Houston 14 in Little Rock
After spotting the Demons a TD when they returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for a score the Thunder worked it's way back into the game and we took a 27-14 lead into the half time break.
Everything seemed to be going well with the offense controlling the clock and the line of scrimmage as we ran for 159 yards on 20 carries in the first half.
But once again we found a way to lose with Gianettino throwing a pick 6 early in the third quarter and Little Rock's defense giving up another 20 points while our offense mustered just 3 in reply.
The only good news for us was that Newark came back with two late TDs to upset Texas and create a three-way tie for the NC South Division lead.
But for that to have any meaning we have to find a way to beat the Hoosier's Renegades in Houston and that won't be easy to do.
The biggest challenge in this game will be that Houston is one of the league's best at stopping what we do best: run the ball.
Over the last four games (3-1) Little Rock's running game has monstered opposing defenses with 748 yards at 5.62 yards a carry. Houston meanwhile has given up 914 yards in 12 games, a measly 76 yards a game at just 3.05 yards per carry.
One of us is in for a rude surprise and based on how this season has gone it's likely to be Little Rock.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Houston QB Damon Harris: Harris has gone 6-3 as a starter this year and is completing 73% of his passes at 8.29 yards per attempt and as far as the Renegades are concerened he is the heart and soul of their offense. After Harris was injured in Week 5 Houston was forced to start 3rd year pro Jordan Buckley and the team promptly went 0-3. Make no mistake about it, Houston needs Harris to play well if they want to keep their playpff hopes alive. While he is without top target WR Diego Griffith, who is still a couple of weeks away from returning to action after seperating his shoulder against Georgia in Week 12, with veterans William Meier and Reggie "All Day" Denning stepping up Harris has more than enough weapons at his disposal to inflict a world of pain on the Thunder.
Little Rock Running Game vs Houston Run Defense: Little Rock is averaging over 156 yards per game on the ground this year, more than double what Houston has been surrendering. For the Thunder to have a shot at winning we MUST be able to run the ball and dictate the pace of the game and to do that we have to find a way to neutralise MLB Thomas Plunkett and keep SS Marshall Diaz from crowding the line of scrimmage.
Little Rock QB Albert Gianettino: If our running game is shut down and we need to rely on Noodle-Arm it's going to be a long day for Little Rock.....
Point Spread:
Houston by 2
Head to Head:
This will be the 8th meeting of the teams and Little Rock leads the series 5-2.
Last Meeting:
Week 14, 2027: Little Rock 16 def Houston 14 in Little Rock
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