RESERVE — Riverside Academy coaches are looking to see the Rebels improve their tackling, while simply lining up better on defense.

Coach Chris Lachney said execution is a focus while adding his players continue to provide an effort “indicative of a championship team” and must continue to improve.

That’s plenty of time to reach their potential ahead of the playoffs.

“Offensively speaking, we have to continue to improve up front with our offensive line,” Lachney said. “We’ve got to make the easy things easy on offense, because right now, we are very much our own worst enemy. We have to continue to work to become more efficient on offense.

“The issues that have kept us from getting the results we want have had everything to do with our team and very little to do with who we have played. We’re making the focus about us (this week) and our execution to get ourselves mentally and physically prepared to compete.”

The Rebels welcome a Fisher (2-5) team to Reserve this week that has been held scoreless over its previous two games. Riverside fans will be excited to get behind the Rebels at home after a tough overtime loss last week at Newman.

“If there is one thing about our kids, they are going to play hard and fight,” Lachney said.

“We’ll continue to work, try to accentuate the things we do well and try to hide some of our weaknesses the best ways we can. This team is a good football team that has a lot of pride in their performance, so they will continue to work toward getting the results they want.”

West St. John at Varnado

It’s not homecoming, but there is still plenty to celebrate. The Rams (5-2, 2-0) thrashed last week’s homecoming opponent, Covenant Christian, (53-7) and look to keep the momentum rolling this week against Varnado High School.

The Wildcats make the trip to Edgard with four wins overall and a perfect 2-0 mark in District play.

Varnado’s defense was especially strong last week during a 32-0 shutout of St. Martin’s Episcopal, scoring a touchdown and notching a safety. Varnado actually started last week producing eight straight three-and-outs on defense.

Varnado coach Scott Shaffett knows this week’s matchup is special.

“We’re the defending district champions, and West St. John wants a piece of that,” he told the Bogalusa Daily News. “We’re going to have to be ready.”

The Rams have really come into their own since late September, outscoring their last three opponents by a combined 176-13 for a 53-point average margin of victory.

Niko Davis and Kylan Davis each scored multiple touchdowns last week for West St. John High.