The Lincoln Southwest varsity football team fell to their rival, Lincoln Southeast, last Friday by a final score of 35-5.

The Hawks started off on a high note with a long kickoff return by sophomore Jack Baptista that set the Hawks up inside the Knights’ redzone. Their opening drive would end in a field goal, making the score 3-0 just a couple of minutes into the game. From there, the Knights would proceed to score 35 unanswered points. 

The Hawks struggled to move the ball on offense, garnering only 38 passing yards in the game on nine completions. Southwest ran the ball 33 times for a total of 64 yards. Southwest’s offense threw three interceptions in the game and zero touchdowns.

The Hawks will look to improve their offense in their next game against Northeast, who is 0-2 and has a point differential of -41 so far this season.

“I believe the game plan for tomorrow is going to be a lot different,” senior Telo Arsiaga said. “On the offensive side of the ball, we are going to try and establish our passing game early so that can allow the run to be more successful. We have been a run dominant team these past two games, and we know we can’t win games that way without a little help from the passing game.”

The Southeast offense accumulated 386 total yards, including 235 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, as well as 151 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

“Our effort is always there,” senior Danny Rothgeb said. “We just have more work to do, I’m confident in our defense moving forward from this game.”

Southwest’s defense will be a big factor in this next game, as they have been outscored 65-12 the past two games.

“Everyone has to make sure to know their assignments, we’re working on the little things this week.” Rothgeb said.

The Hawks defense will also have a chance to improve against the 0-2 Rockets, who have only scored 29 points in two games so far this season.

“Right now we are really focusing on the little things on the defensive side,” Arsiaga said. “We are a very strong and physical defense, but our defense will collapse if someone doesn’t do their assignments correctly. Coach Traynowicz has written up a very good game plan for Northeast and I know our defense will step up this week.”

Southwest’s next match up will be a home game against Lincoln Northeast on Friday, Sep. 11 at 4:30 PM at Seacrest Field.