Wednesday was the first official day of practice for the North Moore, Pinecrest and Union Pines football teams. The Mustangs were 2-9 last year in Bryan Lee’s second year as head coach. The Patriots and Vikings both went 1-10 under first-year coaches John Washington and Ken Neal.
“I love it, I can’t wait,” Neal said just before he took the field with about 80 players and coaches. “We’re going to try to get everything turned around and the only way you can do that is to love it. You’ve got to love it, and you’ve got to make them love it, and get them to work harder than the next person.”
Neal said that there was an increase in the number of players involved in off-season weight training. He was also able to get some of the future Vikings from New Century Middle School involved. But perhaps his biggest reason for optimism is from having a full complement of assistant coaches this year.
“We really and truly have a full staff this year,” he said. “That makes a world of difference. Ms. Lea (Union Pines principal) did a great job in helping us get these coaches in here. It makes a difference to the kids when they see the same face telling them the same thing over and over again instead of hearing ‘we only have one coach for these two spots.’”
The coaching staff consists of Scott Blue (offensive coordinator), Robert Suggs (defensive coordinator), Bobby Purvis (junior varsity head coach and running backs), Matt Ragsdale (defensive line), Allan Cox (defensive backfield), Andrew Clendenin (offensive line) and Tyrone Ross (wide receivers).
The Vikings open the season at home on Aug. 20 in an endowment game against Northwood. Neal says that the team’s most experienced unit is its linebackers.
“I thing our defense is going to be pretty good,” he said. “We had some hard times in the secondary last year, but I think it is going to be better. That has to be our most improved area.”
About 60 players reported to Washington at Pinecrest as clouds mercifully blocked the sun on a day dedicated to conditioning drills. Like Neal and Lee, he is expecting additional players to join the activities by the first of next week. The Patriots open the season at home against the Vikings on Aug. 27.
“We’ve got a number of kids whose parents called and said they were on vacation,” he said. “We have a number that still have to get their physicals and a number that are just running behind. Once we get everybody out here and in place, I feel real good about our chances.”
The Patriot coach said that he had over 30 players participating in off-season weight training on a consistent basis. He was encouraged by the showing of the 27 players that attended a team camp at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory earlier this month.
“We came out of that real pleased,” he said. “The kids were excited and they’re still talking about it.”
The Patriots lost a dozen players that were full-time or sometime starters to graduation. Washington said that he thinks the most improved part of the team might turn out to be a potentially huge offensive line.
He describes tackle Travis Peek, a senior transfer from Washington state, who is 6-foot-5 and weighs 330 pounds, as very athletic. Also projected as a tackle is Brian Senecal, a 6-3, 315-pound junior who did not play football last year. The guard corps includes senior Corey Fletcher, 6-1, 280 and Andrew Pugsley, 6-2, 250.
“From listening to people who have been here for a while,” Washington said, ” this will be our biggest offensive line. It should be the best offensive line since I’ve been here.”
As with the other two schools, a lot of North Moore’s first practice time was taken up by the issuance of equipment and other administrative matters. Fifty-two players checked in with another 10 to 15 expected to report before the week is over. The Mustangs open the season at Bishop McGuiness on Aug. 27 with 17 returning starters.
Lee said that the team practiced four hours a day, three days a week throughout most of the summer. The focus was on offense, specifically the passing game.
“The defense comes around a lot quicker,” the coach said. “On offense, it takes a long time to get your timing right.”
Two-way players Cameron Thomas (defensive tackle-fullback), already signed to play at UNC next year, and Willis Barrett (quarterback-defensive back) are among the leading returnees. Mike Person, another returning player, had a big year at wide receiver as a junior.
Clay Hutchins, Mike Martin and Pinecrest transfer DeAngelo Robinson are expected to contribute toward a stronger running game.
“Our running game was much better last year,” he said. “We came within 19 points of having a .500 season. We’ve got to learn to win close games. We’ve got a good quarterback in Willis Barrett who can help us do that.”
Mustang fans can get an early preview of this year’s squad at a home scrimmage against Union High School on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m.
