The Novi Sad Dukes continue their season on Saturday hosting the Vukovi at the usual place – FK Kabel stadium in Novi Sad starting at 3PM. If last year’s game is any indication, we’re in for an exciting match in which the Dukes will try to finally top Belgrade. Last year they fell just short, losing on a last minute touchdown pass from Andrej Tasić to Igor Nedeljković.
Nedeljković is unlikely to catch a winning touchdown this time around, because he has switched position to cornerback, but the game will mark a comeback for last year’s Offensive Player of the Year, Andrej Tasić. He has recovered from knee injury and will take his place behind center, but other than that there hasn’t been a lot of good news for the Vukovi, with their top three running back from last year, Marko Vujačić, Miloš Jovanović, and Lazar Nikolić out of the game, and possibly as many as twelve sidelined because of injuries. Jovanović has retired, with Nikolić and Vujačić injured. They will also miss starting tight end Aleksandar Anđelković, guaranteeing a tough game for their new head coach.
Dukes’ problems aren’t as severe, with linebacker Ivan Međugorac, and receiver Ivan Dudaš out. As a team in the conference South that has the most players from last year returning in 2007, the time could be right to, after two close defeats, beat the Vukovi.
“We know the Vukovi well, and this will surely be another hard game for us. I hope that, with the help of the crowd, and our motivation we can win. We need to cut down on mistakes, and not let the opponent take advantage of them. The biggest threat is from the Tasić brothers, who will try to stop. If we can stop them from running the ball we’ll have a realistic shot at winning”, said starting linebacker Aleksandar Lazarević. He recorded two sacks in the opening win.
Another player who had a great game in Kragujevac is Jovan Plećaš, who led the team with career high 94 yards receiving and one touchdown.
“The game against the Vukovi I consider to be very important, maybe the most important for a positive outcome of the season and making our plans happen. We realize that regardless of the fact we are playing at home, we’re looking at a hard game. I think that the team that plays better defense will win”, he said.
This is the third game of the 2007 season, with Dukes and the Gladiators getting a win so far and an early lead in their conferences.