After falling hard in the school's first game, the Rudder Rangers couldn't wait to get back on the field.

They won't have to wait long, with their game pushed forward to Thursday at Brookshire Royal because of Hurricane Ike.

It's been a longer wait for the Royal Falcons, who began the season with a 35-6 rout of Hempstead with a 358-yard offensive effort but had an open date last week.

Rudder lost to Cleveland 48-0 in the Rangers' inaugural varsity game last Friday.

"Everybody was in practice Saturday, and we talked and watched film, and by the end of it, they were back on the ground mentally," Rudder coach C.M. Pier said.

Brandon Williams rushed for 118 yards in Royal's opener, but Eric Mathews led the way with his passing, hitting 8 of 14 for 151 yards and four touchdowns. The first one went 76 yards to Shane Alexander.

"They've got a very athletic quarterback and a tailback that's good, too," Pier said. "Defensively, they are a lot like Cleveland."

Rudder gave up 536 rushing yards to Cleveland.

"We did not play well defensively," Pier said of his team's opener. "If you let big guys like that get to your second level, you've got problems. If you get a 250-pound [running back] rumbling down the field, you've got issues."

Rudder will need continued big plays in their secondary like they got from Dominique Robison, Mike Jones and Kyle Danford. After facing a Cleveland team that pounded the ball, Royal's spread offense is likely to throw a bit more, which might seem like a step in the right direction for the Rangers.

"It's not the same power attack we saw last week," Pier said. "They do some things to make you play assignment football, and if you don't show up in the right place, it's out the gate."

Quarterback Tre Hammond ran well for the Rangers in the opener, but early turnovers put the Rangers in a quick 14-0 hole.

"We just have to keep surging forward, trying to improve and get better," Pier said. "We've got to make some headway to get ready for district."