Warren head coach Cody Bupp has been looking for growth all season from his young Dragons, and that includes consistency over all four quarters.

There are four quarters left as the Dragons host North East at 7 p.m. today at War Memorial Field.

“Excited for the opportunity to get our seniors a win at home,” said Bupp, whose Dragons are 0-9, but will graduate just two seniors on this year’s roster. “We told the kids all week it’s perception. We treated this week like it’s a playoff game.”

North East is 1-8 overall and has lost five in a row, including two straight road games at Girard and Fairview.

“North East was a playoff team a year ago, and has a senior group that has played a lot of football,” said Bupp.

Both teams have lost to Corry, Titusville and Girard. The Grapepickers’ lone win came on Sept. 21 against Franklin, while Warren lost to Franklin on Sept. 7.

“North East likes to throw the ball, and complements it with the run game,” said Bupp. “We have to hold up on the back end; we have some younger guys making their first starts.”

North East’s leading rusher is sophomore Ethen Ringer, who played for Warren last season. He has 587 yards rushing and five touchdowns, plus 114 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also returns kickoffs.

Also a sophomore, quarterback Bryson Galloway has rushed for 524 yards and six touchdowns. He’s thrown for 880 yards on 87 completions with five touchdowns and six interceptions.

Altogether, the offense sputtered last week in a 24-7 loss to Fairview. A week prior, it was better in a 34-27 loss to Girard; Galloway and Ringer combined for 230 of North East’s 241 rushing yards in that game.

Warren wants to get its running game going after two tough region opponents in Oil City and Franklin held them to 7 and 43 yards respectively the past two weeks.

“We are looking for the kids to be consistent through all four quarters,” said Bupp. “We had a good week of practice and I think the kids are looking forward to the opportunity to end the season on a high note.”