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Prep football: Estero hopeful to get first win
ESTERO (0-2) at CAPE CORAL-BAKER (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Key players: Estero — QB Will Davis, RB Josiah Arizmendi, OL/DL Mike Dunn; Baker — QB Sean Francis, RB Joseph Byrd, WR Rafaelito Palazzolo.
What to watch for: Estero will definitely be hungry to win this week, but they’ll have to find a way to be more physical in the trenches than they showed last week. North Fort Myers consistently found a way to make it into the defensive secondary on the ground, and if Baker can do the same thing, Estero will be in a lot of trouble again — and susceptible to a barrage of passing plays that Baker coach Brian Conn has at his disposal.
More Estero High School Football
- College football locals: Nov. 22, 2008
- College football locals: Nov. 21, 2008
- PrepZone: Monday football notebook
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Not that Estero felt that it could call out possible wins on its schedule heading into this season, but there was a thought in coach Rich Dombroski's mind that his Wildcats team had a chance against a North Fort Myers team last week that had only won two games a season ago.
Now, after a 54-0 loss to the Red Knights, Estero has gone back to the drawing board in preparation for its game against Cape Coral-Ida Baker tonight. That might not be as bad as it sounds, however, as the new head coach saw nothing but positives over the past week in practice.
"At practice this week, everything looked really good, we all just seemed to really click," Dombroski said. "The scout team was giving us good reps, and we were looking crisp. I would say that this has been the best practice that we have had this year including spring."
Now the only question is whether or not a strong week on the Estero practice field will translate to a win at the Bulldogs' stadium.
Baker comes into the game with a 1-1 record, having beat an East Lee County team that is still building its program before it dropped a disappointing result last week against Riverdale, 28-20. The major difference between Baker and Estero appears to be experience and size -- two things that Estero has had trouble overcoming so far this season.
Baker's entire offensive line has returned from last season and with no starter under 6-foot, blocking for Joseph Byrd -- the Bulldogs' leading rusher last season. The Wildcats have spent the last week of practice making sure that they limit their mistakes
"Every team is beatable, we're just trying to get everything correct," Estero lineman Dylan Thomas said. "I am hearing about their tight end and I have to go up against him all night long, so I have to be prepared for that."
Paramount to not making any mistakes against the Bulldogs, Estero will have to stay mentally tough against Baker. Dombroski noted that Byrd keys the offense, but if his team isn't sharp, quarterback Sean Francis can find an open receiver. Through two games, he has only thrown for 77 yards, but has three touchdowns to his credit.
Furthermore, Estero will be without leading receiver John Pencil. After sustaining a high-ankle sprain against North Fort Myers he's expected to miss the next two to three weeks.
Dombroski, however, is more focused about his performance from his players that will be on the field.
"Their offensive line is impressive and they have big boys across the board," he said. "I hope we learned a lesson last week and won't be intimidated this week."
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