That won't be easy. The 3A North schedulemaker didn't do Sparks any favors on that front as the SHS gridders have had to wrap up their regular season against Fernley - a 27-14 road loss last Friday - and perennial league power Truckee. Sparks hosts Truckee today at 1:30 p.m.
Truckee (6-2, 5-0) does not have lights on its field so the afternoon start time is nothing new to the California school. It is a bit of a rarity for Sparks (4-4, 3-2) but Kittrell scheduled this start time on purpose.
"I like those afternoon games," Kittrell said with a smile. "I was just talking the other day about playing all of our games on Saturday afternoon. It has a nice feel to it, especially this time of year when it's still kind of nice and a little warmer during the day. Plus with the afternoon game you don't have to sit around all day waiting to play football."
Sparks will go into the postseason as either the 3A North's third or fourth playoff seed. Truckee has already clinched the league's top seed. Railroaders players and coaches would like nothing more than to upset the visiting Wolverines today, giving themselves a chance to earn the third seed and a rematch with Fernley in a first-round playoff next weekend.
But can they do that?
"The kids have been upbeat this week. We're down to the bare minimum as far as depth goes, but the kids know what's in store for them Friday," Kittrell said. "There is no one to look to for help. The ones suited up are the ones that have to get it done."
Sparks started the fall campaign with 30 players but injuries and eligibility issues have cut that number by a third. The Railroaders suited up just 20 players last week against Fernley.
The good news is with fewer numbers, teaching time is shortened and that's a good thing this week because there's more to teach. Kittrell was asked what Truckee is good at and what his team needs to prepare for.
"Everything," he said. "They're just a very well coached team. Their kids have been involved in the system since probably Pop Warner. They are very efficient and very good at what they do.
"They have many different backs they get the ball to and many different receivers the quarterback can throw the ball to. It's not a team with two or three superstars. It's a team where you have to worry about everybody."
Truckee's only two losses are to larger California schools - Mariposa County and Colfax - during the first month of the season. The Wolverines are riding a five-game winning streak and have not lost since Sept. 21.
A large part of the Truckee success is dictated by its ground game. Sparks can say the same. That means whichever teams finds a way to chew up more clock and yardage with the rushing attack may find itself leading on the scoreboard when the clock expires.
"We have to be able to run the ball on them a little bit. If we can't, they'll just pin their ears back and put pressure on you throwing the ball. That's where they have forced a lot of their turnovers this year," Kittrell said.
"We also have to slow down their run game and try to make them a one-dimensional passing team. If we put them in third-and-longs, where we know they're going to pass, that can help us. But if we let them get eight yards a carry and then give them a run-pass option, that's where they kill you."
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