In tonight’s Area Game of the Week, the John Essex Hornets will be playing host to the Marengo Panthers tonight at 7 p.m.

The Hornets, under the leadership of new head coach Alphus Shipman, went 3-7 last season.

Coach Shipman is returning to lead the young John Essex football sqaud, a school he once coached three years ago, and is hoping for success.

“My main goal is just to win a game,” Shipman said.

“I just want my guys to play hard.

Work hard and play hard, that’s all I expect.”

The Panthers, under head coach Woodrow Campbell, also had a 3-7 mark in last season’s play.

Coach Campbell and his boys are also looking to turn things around for the 2004-2005 season.

“Our goal for this season is the same as last year,” Campbell said.

“To finish the season undefeated.

Last season’s biggest success story was to face adversity with 18 football players.

And they endured it to the end and did everything I asked them to do and they finished the season.”

Starting tonight, one of these 1A teams will begin the season with a 1-0 record.

My prediction: John Essex 13, Marengo 7