Week 1: Prepared Prairie prevails

Falcons earned Week 1 victory months ago through offseason program

The Prairie Falcons feel they won their first game of the season a long, long time ago.

Maybe it was last spring in the weight room.

Maybe in June during scrimmages.

Perhaps July with conditioning.

The Prairie Falcons won their first season opener since 2013 not just on Friday but in the weeks and months before Friday.

“I was very impressed with the effort,” coach Mike Peck said. “They put in a great offseason Their play reflected that. They had more confidence. They executed the game plan. Great effort, discipline, and attitude.”

The best thing, from a coach’s perspective, the Falcons were not even close to playing their best.

“Schematically, we can get a lot better still,” Peck said. “We have to be more consistent. We have to understand we have to keep getting better.”

He was really impressed with quarterback AJ Dixson and receiver Nolan Mickenham.

“Both of them flashed their skillset and really made some big-time plays,” the coach said.

Dixon threw for two touchdowns and ran for two. Mickenham had 130 yards receiving, including a 70-yard touchdown.

Defensively, the Falcons were just too good as a group that the coach did not want to spotlight any one player.

“It was great to see the energy and the physicality,” Peck said.

Pressed, though, Peck had to mention Zach Wright, who had four sacks and forced a fumble.

“Awesome start to the year,” Peck said.