[ad_1]
The Southside High School football team is having its best start in four years and a number of factors have contributed to it.
Despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the Seahawks played their first three games as scheduled, as opposed to last year, when there was major uncertainty about when or even when the season started.
“We did our best in difficult conditions and I wish it had gone better for the seniors last year,” said coach Jeff Carrow. “It actually helped this group to have two seasons close together, but I feel bad for those who saw their last year cut short.”
The Seahawks took a hiatus after the spring season because most of the team was involved in track and field or baseball, but summer practice began shortly after the end of the school year in June.
“We had a good attendance off season and those who were here accepted what we wanted them to do,” Carrow said. “The older guys weren’t happy with the way spring went and showed the younger guys how to do it.”
The summer effort paid off with a 32-0 shutout for North Duplin in the season opener at home, followed by 36-14 and 44-16 road wins over Washington County and South Creek for the best start. since 2017, when the Seahawks beat Ayden. -Grifton, Dixon, Perquimans and Gates County will start 4-0. They finished 7-6 this season, for their most recent winning record, and lost to North Duplin in the second round of the playoffs.
This fall, Southside’s fortunes turned with an opportunistic defense that collected six fumbles (at least one in each game) and intercepted two passes in addition to getting consistent penetration into the opposing backfield.
Keywon Campbell returned a fumble for a touchdown and Kenjray Coffield intercepted a pass and executed it for a score against North Duplin.
Tequon Moore had a long fumble return for a scoreline in Week 2 in Washington County and the Seahawks scored after three of four turnovers at South Creek.
“Our defense did a great job forcing the turnovers and we took advantage of that,” Carrow said. “They either scored each other or the offense did, which has been a big key for us so far.”
Southside used big plays to take the lead in all three games and didn’t fall behind in 12 quarters.
“We’re just more confident overall,” Coffield said. “We train harder and our defense is more physical in games. We know we’ve caught the attention of other teams with our strong start, so we need to keep working to improve.
Grabbing the lead early reduces the pressure on the offensive ground attack and advances the clock in their favor.
“So far it’s been a team defensive effort, with the guys doing their job to make a play or free a teammate to make one,” Carrow said.
“Keywon Campbell, Chris Fleming, Jacob Taylor and Jamie Corprew did the dirty work along the front line and our high school did a better job tackling the open field.”
The Seahawks travel to Riverside on Friday for a game with a former conference opponent who has just come out of a two-week quarantine.
“I’m very happy with what we’ve done, but I want to keep these guys focused on our next opponent,” Carrow said. “Riverside will be another challenge and we’ll take it one game at a time. We knew we had talented players and we grew up together as a unit. I think our program is back on track, but we still have to earn it on the pitch. “
[ad_2]
Source link