As violent a sport as football can be on any given week, Red Level head coach Tony Ingram said “patience” will be a big key in this week’s region contest against Kinston.

RLS is coming off of a close 32-30 loss to McKenzie, a game Ingram said he’s never seen his kids fight harder to try and get their first win of the season.

“We got the best effort that we’ve had here in a losing effort Friday night,” he said. “I think we played as hard as we absolutely could play. We never gave up.

“It was 32-14 and to fight back and have a chance to win it in the game is all you can ask,” he said. “It was a super, super effort. We’re not big on moral victories. They don’t let you count them.”

Ingram said the players were far from satisfied with the loss last week, and added the Bulldogs will provide a different challenge this week.

Like Pleasant Home, the Bulldogs (0-3) run a similar offense as the Eagles, Ingram said.

“They’re not as big, but they run the offense they run very well,” he said. “They’re very disiciplined. The danger of that offense is once they get the ball, it’s hard to get it back. It’s two yards, three yards, four yards (per play). They eat up clock and we’ve just got to change gears on defense from a wide open (look) to packing it back in like Pleasant Home did.

“If we keep giving the effort and getting some breaks, then we’re going to win some games eventually,” he said.

When Kinston takes control of a game on offense, the Bulldogs will throw a reverse or pass over your head if you don’t look out, Ingram said.

“You’ve got to be ready for what they give you,” he said.

Above everything right now is getting a win, Ingram said.

“It’s at the top of the list,” he said. “All of our goals are still there. We’re at the point where if we don’t get some wins, we’re taking the (playoff) situation out of our hands. It’s going to have to come down to help. You don’t want to put it in someone else’s hands. You want to keep your destiny in your hands.”