Trenton is hoping to find some good this weekend in the bad of last week's 24-0 loss to rival Nottingham that slammed the breaks on a modest, three-game winning streak.
It also brought to light the mistakes that went unaddressed after previous victories.
Not this week, however.
Every aspect of the Trenton team has been examined microscopically this week from penalties to ball protection to attitude on an off the field that brought the Tornadoes back to earth with a resounding thud last Saturday.
Trenton hosts an unpredictable Vineland team (1-3) Saturday, 1 p.m., in the Times of Trenton Game of the Week.
Vineland held off a late Trenton rally last season for a 20-14 win.
“We did things against Rancocas Valley (a 26-19 win on Sept. 20) that we didn’t correct, or never even thought about, until they reared their ugly head against Nottingham because we won,” said Trenton head coach Greg Hyslop.
Hyslop said the Trenton coaching staff has made changes “across the board this week.”
“There are things we’ve been doing all season that are now unacceptable,” Hyslop said. “That refers to things on the field and off the field. We have stressed accountability to our kids every day.
“I’m excited to see how we respond,” Hyslop added. “We have been in bad spots before and progressively got better. Last week we were in a good situation and took a step down.”
As if a Vineland team that has both athleticism and size isn’t enough, Trenton will play without starting quarterback James Hubbard. Hubbard missed most of last week’s game with a high ankle sprain.
Ricky Brown will get the start at quarterback for Trenton.
“Ricky Brown is a good football player and we have every confidence in him,” Hyslop said. “I have to take some of the blame for last week because he probably should have had more reps as the backup, but we didn’t give them to him.”
Brown went 0-for-1 passing and he had one carry for minus 12 yards.
“We had penalties and a big fumble, so we really didn’t do much to help Ricky out,” Hyslop said. “We run the same offense with Ricky that we do with James. Rick can do everything James can do. It just comes down to our offensive line doing what they need to do.”
Trenton, a run first team, didn’t have much success running the ball against Nottingham. The Tornadoes had 70 yards on 17 carries.
Trenton faced second-and-long and even a third-and-30 situation at one point.
Hubbard had 30 yards and Jermaine Tillery 27 to lead Trenton.
“I told the kids I never played on an undefeated football team,” Hyslop said. “We told them this loss could be a good thing in the long run.”
Vineland comes in having lost two-straight – to No. 20 Lenape and a high-flying Timber Creek squad, 44-10. Vineland’s other loss was to No. 5 Williamstown (28-7.) Its lone victory came against Atlantic City (20-15).
“I think Vineland is going to come in here hungry,” Hyslop said. “They have some pretty big boys and they’ve played some very good teams.”
Tyreem Powell has been moved from wide receiver to quarterback. Powell completed 10 of 37 passes last week against Timber Creek for 153 yards and a TD. Seven of those completion went to Jonathan Toney for 115 yards.
“It seems like they (Vineland) was having trouble getting the ball to Powell as a receiver so they moved him under center,” Hyslop said.
“Vineland is a team with big-play capabilities and they can hit home runs. They have a big o-line and get some push. On film you can see them have 40-, 50-, 60-yard plays.”
Trenton of course has to eliminate – or at least limit – those Vineland home runs.
Trenton and Vineland remain in the thick of the playoff race in South Jersey Group 5.
“I don’t ever want to tell one of my players it’s a must-win game,” Hyslop said.
And if Trenton can regroup and win this week, he won’t have to.
Joe Zedalis may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.