WINDSOR – After a solid opening-week performance against Wilson’s Hunt High School, it’s been a rough couple of weeks for Bertie skipper Willie Roberson and his troops.

The Falcons endured a 52-0 loss at the hands of J.H. Rose two weeks ago before dropping last week’s home game to New Bern by a count of 43-0.

Those two losses to 4-A opponents haven’t been what Roberson would have hoped, but he does know the experience should help his club.

&uot;We’ve played some stiff competition, that’s for sure,&uot; Roberson said. &uot;When you play hard teams, it usually makes you hard too.

&uot;Hopefully, we’ve gained experience,&uot; he added. &uot;Now we have to change over and prepare for the 2-A and 3-A teams on our schedule. I feel like those are teams we can play with.&uot;

First on that slate is South Central who will bring a 1-1 record to Windsor Friday night along with one of the area’s best rushers. Tyrell Worthington will lead the South Central team into Friday’s encounter with Bertie and Roberson is sure he will test the Falcon defense.

&uot;They use Worthington to run leads, quick pitches, whatever they want,&uot; Roberson said. &uot;He’s their workhorse, really.

&uot;They’re 1-1 and we haven’t tasted victory,&uot; the coach added. &uot;We’ll have to contain him if we are to have a chance to be competitive.&uot;

Another key to getting competitive has little or nothing to do with South Central.

That important element will be holding onto the football.

&uot;We have to stop turning the ball over and giving the other team field position in the red zone,&uot; Roberson insisted. &uot;You make it very easy for other teams when you give them the ball on a short field.

&uot;We have to alleviate turnovers and make the other team drive the ball,&uot; Roberson said.

Another key factor will be making sure the team plays smarter, according to the coach. That means they will have to know where they are in the kicking game and not give the other team good field position or themselves bad position.

Roberson said he also needs to see improvement in the blocking of his offensive line and backs.

&uot;We need the offensive line to step up and we need our backs to block for each other,&uot; Roberson said. &uot;We need better blocking and better execution.&uot;

The coach said he was spending much of the week trying to keep a positive attitude among his players.

&uot;It takes a special person to keep a positive attitude when you’re not winning,&uot; Roberson said. &uot;We have to keep each other positive and keep pushing forward.&uot;

The Falcons will get the chance to make adjustments and get on the winning track Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they welcome South Central to Windsor.