The early minutes of tonight’s game will be key for Welsh when it takes on Notre Dame in Crowley for the District 5-2A football championship.

In the last five meetings, Notre Dame (7-2, 4-0) has used a quick start to roll to double-digit wins, outscoring the Greyhounds (8-0, 4-0) 109-7 in the first 12 minutes. Welsh head coach Cody Gueringer wants to change that this time.

“We have to situationally understand that the first four minutes of the game is a big deal,” Gueringer said. “The overall momentum of winning that little third of the first quarter is big.

“Going down 14-0 against Notre Dame against Coach Mack’s (James McCleary) defense is like them being up 35-0. Winning that initial blow of the first four minutes, then that second part of the quarter, 4:01 to the 8-minute mark, we have to drive the football, be able to hold possession and not give up big plays or turn the football over and put our defense in any bad situations.”

The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Gardner Memorial Stadium at Crowley Middle School.

Welsh is seeking its first district championship since 2016.

“That is why these kids signed up for this to set a standard and do things the right way and have accountability,” Gueringer said. “It will be fun. (Notre Dame is) a really good football team. They are a traditional powerhouse. It is the overall challenge of having to lock and be physically and mentally tough for 48 minutes. We will be ready to go, and I know Notre Dame will be too.”

Welsh had last week off after Vinton was forced to forfeit due to an insufficient number of healthy players, but it gave the Grehounds extra time to prepare for the Pioneers’ disciplined offense.

“We were able to go into a lot more detail with Notre Dame and not just put a game plan in real quick and rush through it,” Gueringer said. “It was good for us because Notre Dame does such a good job at what they do.

“We know they are going to be in the right spot at all times, so you have to practice against people being in the right spots at all times. You have to put those guys in practice in that situation so when the game comes we see that we are ready and it is not an overall shock.

“For us, I thought it was really good because we were able to go over fixing stuff for what mistakes we have been making in the past and give guys some reps in places that when we push for the playoffs we need to rely on.”

Notre Dame has won four consecutive games, limiting opponents to an average of 6.75 points a game.

Welsh averages 48.1 points a game, led by running back Kennon LeGros (1,072 yards, 18 TD) and quarterback Gabe Guillett, who rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns in Week 7.