Getting the tempo going early is what the 0-3 Hornet football team is working on in preparation for the upcoming game against Eastern Washington.

Coming off of a 59-14 loss to Montana, the Hornets look to improve on their sluggish start, giving up 14 points defensively and punting on their first two possessions in the first quarter.

The team showed signs of life, scoring on its first drive in the 2nd quarter, but still went into the half down 24-7. Going into the 3rd quarter, Montana scored consecutively on three possessions and finished the game with 267 yards passing and 146 yards rushing.

“The defense as a whole didn’t play well,” said junior defensive lineman James Henderson. “We’re going to step it up for Eastern Washington.”

Against Montana there were a few miscues that let the game go “out of hand” but the team is working to eliminate big plays on defense, “stupid” penalties, turnovers and miscues on special teams, coach Steve Mooshagian said.

Defensively, the team is working on going back to the basics, Mooshagian said, but the team is starting to jell offensively with the offensive line coming together as a unit and junior quarterback Marcel Marquez looking confident behind center.

The Hornets are also looking to change the way the team practices by including full speed drills and giving the players a tempo period coming out of the locker room.

We’re a slow starting team so we’re incorporating things in practice where coming into a game ready becomes second nature,” Mooshagian said.

Saturday, the Hornets are set to play against the Eastern Washington Eagles in Washington. The Eagles are 1-3, winning their first game of the season against Montana State 19-10 Saturday, finishing with 125 yards rushing, 176 yards passing and giving up only a touchdown and a field goal in Montana State’s three trips to the red zone. Freshman quarterback Matt Nichols threw 11-19 for 176 yards and 1 interception.

The team didn’t play well in the second half of the Montana game, Marquez said, but everyone is working to do what they have to do to win.

“We are down 0-3, but we are not going to give up,” Marquez said. “Our goal is to win the conference and make the playoffs; this team can do it.”

Matt Beltran can be reached at [email protected]