Tuesday, September 10, 2013 11:03 am

By TONY STINNETT/ Courier Sports Editor

The bye week proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Cannon County’s football team.

In the midst of an 0-2 start the Lions were hobbled against Jackson County and the open week not only enabled head coach T.J. Daniel to rest and rehab players, but also improve their frame of mind.

“The players were down after the first two games but the bye week allowed us to work on some things and hopefully improve ourselves heading into the next game,” Daniel said. “We were able to get some guys some rest but we also were able to focus on us.”

Daniel said the Lions did not focus on Red Boiling Springs (1-2), which they will face on the road Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The first-year head coach said last week’s bye week was spent focusing on the Lions and what they need to do in order to improve. That attention will shift to Red Boiling Springs during preparation this week.

Cannon County hopes to have improved its offense during the bye week. The Lions have failed to score in their first two games but eight turnovers in four quarters has slowed the team’s progress when it has been moving toward the end zone.

The Lions have performed well against the run and during early downs; however, the secondary has been shaky and given up too many third-and-long conversions and passing scores. B.J. Daniel, Case Isenhart, Tyler Slater, Jonathon Smith and Ethan Smith lead the unit.