Notre Dame entered this football season with expectations of a state championship and was the top-ranked team in Division II-AA after an opening win over Central in August.
Six weeks later, coach Charles Fant is not sure he will have enough players to field a scheduled junior varsity game Monday afternoon.
The M*A*S*H unit that is the Fighting Irish team fell to 2-4 for the season and 1-3 in East Region play with a 26-6 loss Friday night to Christian Academy of Knoxville, spoiling homecoming at Notre Dame. The Irish likely will have to win their last two region games to have a chance to qualify for the state playoffs.
“Sometimes, we feel like Job and wonder, ‘Why, Lord?'” Fant said. “But just like Job, you have to have the faith to go through these trials and tribulations because they have a purpose. We might not see it on the scoreboard, but somewhere down the road going through this will pay off for all of us.”
Notre Dame lost its seventh starter in six games to injury Friday night when middle linebacker and quarterback Dallas Brown hurt his shoulder. The Irish entered the game down six starters, including talented running back Jeffrey Watkins Jr. The senior had accumulated 608 yards and 11 touchdowns before a shoulder injury two weeks ago.