After a strong 3-0 showing in their preseason schedule, the varsity football team will open league play against the Del Campo Cougars tonight.

The Cougars come into league with a 2-1 record with close wins over the Merced Bears and the Vanden Vikings and a loss to the Monterey Trail Mustangs. In the Cougars’ wins, their defense was a strong point, holding their opponents to a combined 27 points, but were outmatched in the loss against Monterey trail, giving up 48.

The Cougars’ offense, while not flashy, is a steady run-based scheme that puts up a fair amount of  points each game, scoring a combined 63 points between the three games. The success in the their run game comes primarily from one of their strongest position groups, the offensive line, anchored by 6’5, 329-pound guard Stephan Poe.

If the Tigers and their run defense, who average 148 rushing yards allowed per game, can bottle up the Cougars’ potent rushing attack, the Tigers should be able to walk away with the win and prove themselves as a threat to the rest of the league.