The Linden Patriots begin the 2004-2005 football season with an open date on Friday, August 27th.

The following week, on September 2nd, they face Sunshine on the road.

And head coach Luther Davis is hoping his team can step out as a dominant force in 1A action.

“Our goal as a football team is to try and make it to Birmingham,” Davis said.

“Trying to win our region is our main goal.”

Linden has many returning players from last year’s squad and coach Davis is hoping his team can look past last year’s mistakes.

“The main thing I want for this team is for us to overcome obstacles,” Davis said.

“The key to us being successful is our offense.”

As far as the toughest opponents for the Patriots this year, Davis believes there are a few that will be very hard to beat.

“I think American Christian, Sweet Water, and A.L. Johnson will be the toughest teams on our schedule,” Davis said.

The one word Davis used to describe this year’s team is “disciplined.”

“There are also a lot more leaders on this year’s team than in the past,” Davis said.

“But we are definitely more disciplined this season.”

Linden started off strong last year, but according to Davis, his team became overconfident and began to fall.

“We were 3-0 starting off last year,” Davis said.

“But we became too confident that it would be an easy season, and by the fourth and fifth games, we lost.

Like I said earlier, our main goal is to overcome the obstacles this year.

We also have more players on the team than in the past.”

Davis and his Patriots are aiming for improvement, and according to Davis, that can be accomplished through the team’s rushing game.

“Our running game has improved tremendously,” Davis said.

“And with some strong running backs on this year’s squad, we have a chance to be successful.”