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Richard Winn Academy Eagles kickoff double header action against the Knights of W.W. King Academy in home action on Friday night. The middle school game begins at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity game follows around 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles come into this one hungry for their first win of the season. The squad finds itself a bit banged up heading into the game, though.

Coach Kenny Atkerson said that Sidney Edenfield remains out with a shoulder injury. Logan Gibbons overcame a gimpy knee to play about half of the game on defense last week.

Coach estimated Gibbons to be around 90 percent.

The Eagles once more will be without Alex Scott who did not play last week due to complications from an infection.

Scott was held out of practice this week as well.

Compounding the tough task ahead for the Eagles is that Mac McDonald and Zelick Levy have missed practice this week due to flu-like symptoms. It is hoped both will be ready to play by kickoff, though.

The coach was not using the injuries and illness as an excuse for the team’s performance on the field, though.

“The biggest lesson that we can take away from last week is that we have to get ready mentally and physically before each game,” Atkerson said.

He knows this is a young team still adjusting to the schemes and pace of eight man football. They face W.W. King, a team they had a jamboree scheduled with earlier in the year.

Expect W.W. King to vary its defensive front in this contest. At times they play an even number front or an odd number up front depending on the type of offense they face.

The Eagles hope to counter that tendency with a mixture of running and passing plays that give them the most beneficial match up up front.

Assignment football once again will be the theme of the evening for the Eagles as they find themselves defending a team that runs an option offense.

Atkerson is proud of his young team thus far into the season and notes how tough the schedule has been for RWA.

“With this game all of our opponents are undefeated after last week’s game,” he said.

The injuries and illnesses provide extra obstacles for the team to overcome but he is viewing this eight man football team project in terms of the long haul.

“We need to get healthy but we have been playing a lot of young players so we are building depth,” he said.