PLAINFIELD – Last season, the New Jersey Lions ended the New Jersey Wolves season on a 105-yard interception return in a classic defensive playoff battle. The rivals meet again Saturday in Plainfield as one of the headliners of the second week of the Big North East Football Federation (BNEFF) season.

The Wolves (1-0) and the Lions (1-0) share the lead in the Western Division of the league’s Empire Region after winning their opening games. The Lions smashed the Bergen Hawks 46-6 on the road in the opening game and quickly shifted their focus.

“I told the team, the New Jersey Wolves need our undivided attention,” Lions Head Coach Paul Castillo Jr. said. “They are fast. We need a good week of practice in preparation for the Wolves.”

After a big win in week one, the Lions expect a different challenge come Saturday.

“We have to adjust to their team speed, they have unbelievable team speed,” Castillo said. “They have players that can make plays from anywhere on the field.”

Planning and execution is what Castillo plans to counter the Wolves’ speed and help his team adjust to the fast style of play the Wolves bring to the table.

“Our schemes will have to put us in position to overcome their speed advantage,” Castillo added. “I know this for sure, you can expect a good showing.

We plan on coming out and playing four quarters of football…Lions football, and hopefully the score will be in our favor in the end.”

A Paul Young touchdown snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Wolves against the New Jersey Spartans last week. Wolves’ head coach Ty Redmond knows his squad has to step their game up this week.

“We have to play Wolves’ football, what we did last week was not Wolves’ football,” Redmond started. “If we play Wolves’ football we will be good.”

Maybe the Wolves overlooked the Spartans with the rematch with the Lions on the horizon.

“It’s (the Lions game) definitely been on the radar, this is one (game) that we starred right away,” Redmond said. “We are excited to get it on with them again, we have unfinished business.”

Redmond did say he had to remind his team the true meaning of the game as a way to pull them back.

“I think we have our emotions under control for this game,” Redmond said. “We understand it’s a long football season, ultimately it is just the second game of the season. Yes, we play up the unfinished business angle, but in the overall scheme of things, it is our second conference game. We have to keep it in perspective.”

The showdown kicks off at Seidler’s field at 6:30 pm.