MERRY HILL – No room for error.

When Lawrence Academy hosts the state’s top-ranked eight-man club here Friday night, the Warriors will have exactly that, according to fourth-year coach Alan Spencer.

&uot;Trinity is the team to beat,&uot; Spencer said. &uot;They’re big. They’re fast. They’re strong. The are major-league loaded.&uot;

Spencer said his club would have to play a ball-control offense and keep their hands on the football to slow down the high-powered Trinity offense.

&uot;We have to control the ball,&uot; he said. &uot;We can’t make mistakes. We’re not going to stop them but so much because they are so talented. We have to control the ball and have to protect the ball.&uot;

Trinity comes in not having given up a score all season long. They defeated Northeast Academy 66-0 on opening night before stopping Rocky Mount Academy 68-0 this past week.

Lawrence (0-2), on the other hand, is struggling in the early going. Harrells Christian Academy defeated the Warriors 30-0 on opening night in Merry Hill before the Warriors were shocked by Fayetteville Christian 41-20 last week.

The Warriors are looking at a tough task in dealing with the state’s top-ranked club and that task has become even more difficult due to a host of injuries.

Spencer will be without the services of starting offensive and defensive lineman Frank Baker for the rest of the season as he has what is being speculated as a torn rotator cuff. Details will be forthcoming this week, but Spencer believes he will lose Baker for the season.

Ben Blowe, who started at linebacker, will be out at least three weeks due to a broken hand.

While those two injuries are tough to deal with, having both starting running backs suffering from injury is also tough for the Warriors to overcome.

Jobie Thomas has been about 85 percent as he returns from a broken bone in his leg while senior Andrew Krawczyk is suffering from a knee injury he had last week at Fayetteville Christian.

&uot;If we lose a kid, it kills us – much less more than one,&uot; Spencer said.

Still, he isn’t ready to concede Friday night’s game to Trinity.

&uot;If we play like we’re capable of, it will be a good ballgame,&uot; Spencer said. &uot;I’ve said before and I still believe this is the best team I’ve ever had. We’re just not getting it done. Injuries have hurt us, but we’re just not getting it done.&uot;

The Warriors could take a huge step in that direction Friday when they host Trinity Christian at 7:30 p.m.