Park football head coach Ben Wolfe said he feels excited heading into the team’s home opener versus the Robbinsdale-Armstrong Falcons.

“Personally, I feel confident. I think we have a good opportunity to go beat a good team. We are excited for playing at home,” Wolfe said.

Park’s defensive coordinator Jason Foster says facing Armstrong’s offense presents challenges due to the team’s use of multiple formations. Foster said he believes hard work from the coaching staff will help prepare the players for the game.

“How we prepare for that is film study and making sure the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball be particular in what they are trying to do or how they are trying to attack us,” Foster said. “We have to get our nose to the grind —into the film study room— make sure we relay all our information to our kids this week to get them prepared.”

Wolfe said he feels the key to the defense’s performance on Friday rests on their preparation.

“Our defense is designed as an aggressive defense, as attacking to go and get after other teams. It is more about preparation. We will be ready for them either way,” Wolfe said.

Senior captain and starting quarterback Logan Romero said that in addition to carrying on early momentum, the offense has been practicing third and fourth down situations in order to take advantage of opportunities that arise during the game.

“Our defense did a good job of giving us a good look at what Armstrong is going to do this week, so just being able to recognize what they are going to do and capitalize,” Romero said.

Foster said the team will need to clean up mistakes and capitalize on opportunities in order to win the game.

“Keeping the same intensity we had in the first half of that game, and carry it over to four quarters instead of just two to three quarters,” Foster said. “We made a lot of mistakes, a lot of penalties that we can clean up. I think we do that we can be successful.”

Wolfe said the players have spent time preparing mentally and physically. He said the players are ready to play in their own stadium for their fans.

“I think they are ready. Mentally, they have been locked in at practice. Physically, we have been running around and they have been putting in work conditioning-wise and preparation as far as practice goes,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe said the players and coaches are ready to make fans proud at the home opener.

“We are hoping to bring a victory to our home crowd and to our school, to play our best game and see what will happen,” Wolfe said.

The home opener begins at 7 p.m.  Sept. 9 at Saint Louis Park against Robbinsdale Armstrong.