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Bears ready for playoff challenge against Cross County

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LAUREL — LCC has advanced to the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Bears will head to Stromsburg Thursday with some momentum as they steamrolled Elkhorn Valley, 60-22, in preparation for this East bracket showdown.

“Cross County is a very good team and even if they are 4-4, all four losses are to Division 1 teams,” Laurel head coach Pat Arens said.

The Bears will have to be able to stop the run if they want to have a chance to earn the victory, Arens said.

“From what I’ve seen of them so far, they like to run the ball and they do a very good job at it. It looks like they are primarily an I-formation team,” he said.

Line play will be crucial, Arens said.

“They have a very good line,” he said. “I feel we also have a very good defensive line, that will be a key matchup in this game.”

Arens said he is hoping the Bears’ passing game can be a key to success for the Orange and Black.

“It looks like we might have a size advantage with our receivers.  I see some opportunities in the passing game,” he said. “There are also opportunities in the running game in certain formations.”  

The Bears had an up-and-down District 5 performance – going 2-3 – but they ended it the regular season on a high note last week with a very sound victory over the Elkhorn Valley Falcons.

“In the first half of the game we were making too many little mistakes, we weren’t focused,” Arens said. “The second half we executed much better and we weren’t making those little mistakes,  allowing us to get in the end zone more.”

Despite the lopsided 60-22 Bear win, LCC played a quality foe last week, Arens said.

“Elkhorn Valley is a good team. They’re a playoff team, and have a good passing game — a quarterback and receiver that are tough to defend.”

Early mistakes like the Bears had against the Falcons, just won’t cut it this week, Arens said.

“This is the playoffs and we cannot have the mistakes and slow start that we have had at times this year,” he said.  “We will have to take care of the ball and try to create some turnovers to win this game.”

Other side of the bracket: No. 15 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (4-4) at No. 2 BDS (8-0)