Newsome football coach Kenneth Hiscock understands injuries are a part of the game, but he’s never experienced a season quite like this one.

After losing arguably his top offensive weapon a few weeks ago, Hiscock is now adjusting to the loss of some key defensive players, including his captain, junior linebacker Joe Worth. Worth, who leads the team with 45 tackles, will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a left knee injury in a win over Bloomingdale on Oct. 23, the coach said Thursday.

Worth is one of three starters injured since that Oct. 23 game who are expected to miss the remainder of the season, Hiscock said. Linebacker Christian Durant (knee) and defensive back Adam Mallady (back) are the others.

It’s not exactly the way Newsome would like to head into Friday night’s district showdown with Durant, a game that if won would give the Wolves their second consecutive district title.

“It’s how you deal with adversity. We’ve had our fair share. We’ve just got to face the challenge and go with it,” said Hiscock, who added there has been a psoitive as a result of all the injuries.

“We’ve had some guys who have stepped up when their number was called.”

One of those is junior Vince Pennington, who has performed very well since stepping into the starting fullback role in place of Conner Powers, who was lost for the season with a knee injury. After running for 86 yards and two scores against Leto following the injury to Powers, Pennington has topped the 100-yard mark in each of the past two games.

“He has done a great job filling in. He definitely has exceeded expectations,” Hiscock said of Pennington. “We’d like to see him continue to get big yards.”

Newsome (5-2), which has won five straight, has a few things on its side heading into the matchup with Durant (6-2). First, the worst Newsome can do is end up in a three-way district tiebreaker with Plant City and Durant. That would happen if the Wolves lose. Second, Newsome has never lost to Durant in four previous meetings.

“It’s going to be a battle with those guys,” Hiscock said of Durant, his alma mater. “Our kids know what is at stake. I think they are ready to play.”