James Kenan assistant football coach Don Smith, left, watches Cal Avent (gray shirt) hitting the bag during a defensive drill on opening day of high school football practice Wednesday in Warsaw. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Monte Kornegay tightly wraps up the football during a running back drill Wednesday morning in Dudley. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — The bright sun escaped a bank of clouds and evaporated the last remnants of a light fog that covered the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex at Southern Wayne High School.
Cars soon pulled into the parking and players, with their helmets in hand, walked toward the field house locker room. They couldn’t enter and sat on the cement steps.
At last, THE day had arrived.
More than 30 players clad in T-shirts, shorts and cleats officially kicked off their 2024 football campaign.
However, they weren’t alone.
Spring Creek, North Duplin and James Kenan — all schools in the mountolivetribune.com readership area — also launched their respective seasons either in the morning or evening.
Once he checked over paperwork, second-year Saints head coach Matt Hine announced assistant Brandon Proctor left to become head coach at South Lenoir. Hine said he planned to interview a couple of prospective coaches and have the staff in order soon.
He wasn’t done.
“We are going to discuss discipline,” said Hine, who recalled a couple of late-season instances from last fall. “We want to get rid of that completely. My goal is to make everyone the best player you can be, the best student-athlete you can be and the best man you can be.
“I need you to remain disciplined this year.”
Hine addressed his team about leadership. With a small senior class and talented, but inexperienced underclassmen, he stressed the importance of helping to groom the younger players.
The Saints took a short water break.
Once everyone had hydrated, they returned to the field to different stations that included blocking drills, receiving route work and quarterback to running back handoffs.
James Kenan
Meanwhile, in Warsaw, Tim Grady leaned back in his chair and smiled at his assistant coaches. A lively locker room filled with laughter was music to ears compared to this time a year ago.
He loved the energy.
Though the afternoon sun baked the practice area behind Bill Taylor Field, more than 40 players exited the field house ready to work.
A quick running drill pumped adrenaline through their veins and beads of sweat popped out everywhere. They spent their initial practice working on fundamentals, but also going through different areas of their offensive and defensive playbooks.
Unlike previous years, the Tigers don’t have huge linemen to dig in their heels and control the trenches. They’re more agile, quick and react well.
“We’ve preached the whole offseason that we want to play strong, we want to play fast and so, we hope, you know, they drink the Kool-Aid,” grinned Grady. “We’re basically preaching the message of learning everything right now and being ready. There’s no replacing ‘war’ time [on Friday night].
“We can practice hard, we can prepare, but there’s nothing like game experience … period.”
The NC High School Athletic Association permits teams to work out only in T-shirts, helmets and non-padded shorts during the first two days of practice. Shoulder pads can be added on the third day. Full gear and full-body contact is not allowed until the sixth day.
The first playing date is Aug. 23.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call 919-709-9257.
