: Armstrong High Football
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2008 Armstrong Schedule
2008 Falcons Schedule http://www.eteamz.com/armstrongfootball
8-29 7pm at Rochester JM
9-5 7pm HOME OPENER (YOUTH NIGHT) vs Chippewa High School
9-12 7pm at Wayzata
9-19 7pm vs Edina
9-26 7pm at Woodbury
10-3 7pm (HOMECOMING) vs Mounds View
10-10 7pm (SENIOR NIGHT) vs Hopkins
10-15 7pm (WEDNESDAY NIGHT) at Minnetonka
Come out and support your Falcons!!!
Wednesday, August 27
Startribune preseason notes on Armstrong (THREE EX - ACYFA PLAYERS MENTIONED)
ARMSTRONG FALCONS
Coach: Derek Fisher, eighth year
The skinny: The Falcons have to figure out some offense, and quick. Armstrong scored only 15 offensive touchdowns a year ago, and all but two of the players responsible for those scores are gone. Sophomore Prince Kanu and senior Dwight Bates, with one rushing touchdown each, are the lone returners. A bright spot? Armstrong does get back defensive end Wilfred Pagod and his 58 total tackles.
GO GET UM FALCONS.
Prince Kanu, Dwight Bates and Wilfred Pagod are all former ACYFA players.
Thursday, August 28
Sun Post article on Preseason Falcons
BY Nick Clark * SUN NEWSPAPERS
When he emerged from the Armstrong High School auditorium last week, Derek Fisher wasn't tiptoeing around anything. But that didn't mean his legs weren't in need of a break. "I've got to sit down man," Fisher said. "My legs are sore." That should be expected. Fisher, Armstrong's head football coach, has been on his feet and pacing through the first two weeks of practice more this year than any in recent memory. And he has plenty of reason to.
Only a few contributors from last year's 1-8 team are returning this fall. In essence, the Falcons are raw, and that has prompted Fisher and his staff to take a step or two back before moving ahead this fall.
"As far as offensive line and quarterbacks and receivers, it is all rebuilding," he said. "We were a senior dominated team last year, but now these juniors have to grow up."
The main point of emphasis early on has been the importance of line play.
Offensively, the Falcons have some skill in the backfield with the tandem of Prince Kanu and Dwight Bates, and on the defensive side, Armstrong returns cornerbacks Matt Bailey and Totey Fahnbulleh and linebackers Mike Mann and Xavier Burt.
But, if the guys up front don't get a push, none of that experience will matter.
"That is pretty much it," Mann said. "If they get it done, we can win, but if they struggle, we are going to struggle as a team."Said Fisher, "We have to get stronger and better in the trenches. That has been our focus since last year ended."
The Falcons ended their season in Maple Grove a year ago with a 42-22 loss, a game in which the Crimson rushed for 290 yards. Most of that damage was done early, as Maple Grove jumped out to an early 21-0 lead, then held on after Armstrong opened it up through the air. That penchant for getting back into games might not be there for Armstrong this year, with the graduation of quarterbacks Matt Lewis and Tony Trulen, as well as receivers Jake Hawes, Jake Latzka and Wes Hoefer.
Senior Andrew Serakos will likely start the year as the Falcons' quarterback, but he's as untested as his receiving corps will be, and Fisher was hoping Serakos would be able to handle the responsibility. "That's the million dollar question," Fisher said. "He's a senior and is going to give us some senior leadership. I am thinking we are probably going to go with him to start off the season and see where he can take us."
The Falcons open up their season at Rochester John Marshall at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.
A year ago, Armstrong beat John Marshall 25-18, but didn't win another game the rest of the way.
This year, the rest of the Falcons' schedule won't do them any favors in finding a way to avoid another tough year. There is just one change from 2007, with Chippewa Falls, Wis., replacing Menominee, Mich., but the rest of the slate is the same. "The key is can we do it up front, and you look at our schedule and the teams we play, they are always pretty solid up front," Fisher said. "We are used to it. We are survivors around here, and we'll find a way to get it done."
Picture below:
Armstrong's John Henstrom pulls a pass during practice at the school Friday, Aug. 22.
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