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MUSCATINE, Iowa – Big and small.

That would describe the Davenport Assumption football team well. The Knights are small in numbers, but the players on their team are large in stature.

Muscatine coach Tony Napierala is hoping that Assumption’s low numbers will benefit his team come Friday night at Muscatine Community Stadium.

“They are big – really big,” Napierala said of the Knights, “but they have eight starters going both ways. We have to go quicker and control the pace of the game. They have some big boys up front. They’re offensive and defensive lines average 240 to 250.”

Assumption is 1-1 after dropping a 20-14 decision to Pleasant Valley last Thursday. Knights coach Wade King said his squad is lucky to be in that position.

“Our team needs to play mistake-free football,” King said. “In both of our games we made mistakes, and in the first one we were lucky to get away with it. Last week, we didn’t.”

But King said that his 30-man roster didn’t have anything to do with his team’s loss last week.

“We had plenty of opportunities to score more points (against PV),” King said. “We lost field position.”

Muscatine junior quarterback Paul Jindrich says the key will be the Muskies’ depth.

“We have to continue to beat them down,” Jindrich said. “They are such a small team (numbers wise) that endurance, whoever can play harder, longer, will be key.”

Napierala said the Knights don’t lack for talent.

“They run multiple formations,” Napierala said. “They want to run the ball. Their best running back, No. 1 (Ryan Byrne) is good and when they throw the ball, they’ll go to No. 85 (Joe Daniel), but if they can run the ball, they’ll run it right at you.”

Likewise, King said that Muscatine is difficult to prepare for with its spread attack.

“You see them do things that other teams don’t do,” King said. “It is hard to replicate in practice. They did a nice job against Bettendorf, but I’m more concerned about how we play and our execution.”

The early play against the Bulldogs is something Napierala hopes will continue.

“We played well,” Napierala said. “We got better. We need to get up to that level every time. It raises our expectations and makes sure we stay there.”

Jindrich added, “If we can all keep the positive attitude, stay fired up, we can do anything we want to. We just got to do what we do and we’ll be fine. They have big players, but we should wear them down.

“Hopefully, that will help us out.”

Assumption (1-1) at Muscatine (0-2)

- When: Sophomores at 4:45 p.m. Friday; varsity to follow around 7:30 p.m.

- Where: Muscatine 

- Last week: Assumption dropped a 20-14 decision at home to Pleasant Valley, while Muscatine hung tough with fourth-ranked Bettendorf for 3 1/2 quarters before falling, 40-19.

- Coaches: Muscatine, Tony Napierala (2nd year, 4-8); Assumption, Wade King (8th year, 55-20)

- Last meeting: The Knights scored 24 second-half points to upend the Muskies

30-27 last season at Brady Street Stadium. Assumption back Ryan Byrne, a senior, rushed for 161 yards in that game. 

- Key facts: The Muskies haven’t started a season 0-3 in the past 15 years. … Byrne has rushed for 166 yards in two games, while quarterback Sean Finn has thrown for 241 yards and three scores. Receiver Joe Daniel has a team-high 11 catches for 157 yards.

Three keys for the Muskies

No turnovers: Muscatine had a pair of interceptions that eventually led to Bettendorf scores last week. If the Muskies can keep away from turnovers against Assumption, they will keep themselves in the game.

Capitalize on scoring chances: Muscatine coach Tony Napierala said that his team walked away empty-handed on too many occasions. “We left too many opportunities out there against Bettendorf. We have to score when we get the chance.”

Make Assumption work hard: With Assumption’s lack of depth, Napierala and his team needs to find a way to make the Knights work hard for everything they get. “There can be no easy plays,” Napierala said. Assumption coach Wade King said that his team has to control the line of scrimmage. “We have to get the ball to our play-makers,” King said. “We’re a possession team and run our offense.”