French said they not only run the football, but can pass it. Muse has thrown for 1,205 yards and 12 touchdowns, another reason Pulaski averages 42 points per game
'They pick on your weaknesses'
"They will spread you out and make you cover the whole field," French said. "They pick on your weaknesses. They will run out of the (shot)gun most of the time with a two-back set, but sometimes they will go with one back and spread you out."
French says Pulaski at times will use three, or even four, receivers and often will use play-action passes.
"We have to recognize what they are doing and react," French said.
The Maroons give up just over 21 points per game. They are aggressive out of their five-man front, but French says Pulaski relies on its offense to win games.
"They have a senior dominated offensive and defensive line and are playing football the way its meant to be played," French said.
Lincoln defeated Garrard County 35-0 last week, but French wasn't happy with his team's focus to begin the game.
"I don't know if it was overconfidence, the fact we were out of school or what, but we just were not focused to start the game," the veteran Lincoln mentor said. "We had a couple of key mistakes that could have been real costly, but after we settled down we played much better from the first quarter on."
'We can't take a play off'
The Patriots limited Garrard to just 155 yards while forcing three turnovers and a safety.
"We have to step up and get more physical, though," he said. "We have a challenging five-week schedule looking at us, and we have to be physically and mentally ready to play to stay sharp. We can't take a play off. Our offensive line has to fire off the ball and our running backs have to get their blocks."
The Lincoln offense is beginning to play much better under first-year coordinator Mike Elkins.
"We struggled at the first of the year until he adjusted to our personnel, but they are playing better lately," French said. "Getting Ryan (Young) and Noah (Keeton) out helped. They can catch the football and that not only gives us a passing attack, but helps spread the field and gives our backs more room to run."
After being held to just seven points in the loss to Bell, Lincoln now averages 26 points per game while the defense allows 15 per contest.
"Hopefully we can put some points on the board and keep the ball away from their offense," French said. "We need to keep our defense fresh and hope they can get the ball back for us."
He also pointed to special teams play as a huge key. Wayne ran the opening kickoff for a touchdown last week before the Maroons reeled of 52 straight points.
"They kick off from a huddle and squib it every time," French said. "It just so happened that the kid from Wayne got the ball on a perfect bounce and it backfired on Pulaski. You are going to get good field position if you field the ball. It's up to us to do something with it once we get it."
