Redell knows Nordhoff will be tougher in the rematch

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If there’s one thing Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell fears, it’s playing a team his boys crushed earlier in the season. And that’s exactly the scenario the Lions are facing heading into their Northwest Division title game with Tri-Valley League foe Nordhoff.

‘It’s a disadvantage when you have to play somebody again that you’ve beaten because they have all the motivation going into it,’ Redell said. ‘They’re going to try to get even. They’ve got a lot of great kids and they’re very talented, so we’re approaching this one like we’re the underdog.’

Redell earnestly believes Nordhoff will play much better this time around. Of course, I think the Rangers are going to have to put a monumental turnaround, especially on defense, to beat a team they lost to by more than five TDs.

But I know the Rangers are also tired of playing second banana to the Lions. They’ve lost to Oaks Christian in the postseason three times in the last four years and they’re definitely going to make the most out of being in the divisional finals for the first time since 1999.

‘I know we can play a lot better than we did last time,’ said Nordhoff RB Damian Kaiser said. ‘We were sick and had some injuries last time, so it’s going to be different. We know we can win and, when we’re focused, we can play with anybody.’

We’ll find out on Friday if Nordhoff has what it takes to topple a regional powerhouse and claim what would be its first division title after coming away empty-handed in three previous treks to the finals.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image from www.oakschristian.org