The second week of the season brings the second, and final, non-conference game of the year as the Wildcats look to start the 2013 campaign with a second straight win against the visiting Lions of University City, Missouri.

For the last several years, this week would have normally been a SIAC (Southern Indiana Athletic Conference) match up for Mater Dei against north side rival, Central, but a change by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) requiring all state teams to play their two annual non-conference games during the first two weeks of the season has pushed that game back to week eight (October 11th).

Saturday's game will also be the only Saturday afternoon game played by an Evansville area team this year, as the IHSAA has also made a push to keep as many games as possible on Friday nights.

Mater Dei comes into the game ranked number three in Class 2A, after a 37-14 win over Heritage Hills last week in Lincoln City which saw running back Nolan Goebel score on two rushing plays, and senior Jacob Fleming take an interception 79 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first half. Junior Julian Weidner also chimed in with 60 yard score.

What the Wildcats are in for against the Lions of University City is tough to call as finding info on the visiting team has been difficult to come by. What I have been able to find is that they finished the 2012 season with .500 record of 6-6. I can also tell you that they only have six seniors on their 42 man roster.

On paper they appear to be a decent sized team with quarterbacks in the six foot, 175 pound range, short, stocky running backs standing anywhere between 5'7" and 5'9", and weighing in between 150 and 195 pounds.

They also boast a good size offensive and defensive line with heights ranging between 5'9" on the low end and 6'3" on the high end, and weights measuring as little as 160 pounds, and as much as 290 which could cause problems for the Wildcats rushing attack.

Where Mater Dei should find success is through the passing game as University City seems to lack size in the secondary with the biggest linebacker / defensive back standing 6'1" and weighing 185 pounds.

Generally what a team lacks in size, they gain in speed as a player's "lightweight" frame (for lack of a better term) gives them the ability to move quickly.

Regardless of what they show on paper, there's no doubt Wildcat coach, Mike Goebel, his staff, and his players won't take University City lightly.

Hear it all play out on Newstalk 1280 with myself and Jimmie Ford beginning with pregame at 1:30pm and kickoff at 2pm.

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