by Dave Delgado

Guam - The DOCOMO Chargers and Pepsi Warriors will meet on Sunday in the second game of this year's MFL season-opening weekend. The Chargers look to bounce back after a disappointing season last year behind some returning veterans and new additions to the team. The difference maker in this year's football team will be the new coaching staff they picked up.

"I think this season we have committed being prepared for the season," assistant coach Jacob Dowdell told KUAM Sports. "I think that is something that has been lacking in year's past. We were able to commit and one thing that I think will be able to help us this year is we have a strong emphasis on family so that is really going to be able to help us as a team along with execution and things like that. A lot of emphasis went into timing on our plays and conditioning so one of the things that will help us out in the end is that we will be ready in the 4th quarter."

The Chargers are confident that their rotation in the backfield and size at the offensive line will be enough to get the job done.

"I'm not trying to sound cocky, but I'm pretty sure we'll run people over and we have a few tricks up our sleeves so we keep the defense honest," added Dowdell. "We can't really say that it's going to a run this time or it's going to be a pass next time, we're just well rounded. We have some skilled players, we have some tight ends that can catch and our receivers have some good hands, quarterbacks legit. We have some small backs and some big backs; you have to wait for the game to see what we throw out there. Everything looks good from what I see."

DOCOMO's defense will shut down the run first and rely on their speed on the outside to pick up anything that gets by their linebackers.

Veteran defensive end Emonte Means said of his team's size and speed, "Our strength will be our defensive line and our line-backing core. Some of our key players will be the Alan 'Acme Rocket' Hamilton at free safety, Mitch will be at strong, myself at defensive end. Mainly our defense is set up to stop the run but our secondary is pretty strong as well so I believe we can defend either or. Everybody is excited, including myself."

Means added, "I haven't been able to sleep the last couple of days I keep dreaming about getting back onto the field so it's going to be pretty exciting come Sunday."