Andrews – Before the game, Wildcats head coach James Phillips said something he’s said to his group throughout the lead up to this season.
He’s told his senior class that the final season of high school football is like an hourglass, with the sand running out faster than you think. And with the mark this senior class has already made on the football program, Phillips wants to make sure they make the most of every opportunity.
Friday night’s scrimmage against Franklin was another opportunity, and the Wildcats looked ready to get off to a good start this fall.
“With a group of our seniors who have been in our system for so long, I thought our execution was good once we got in the grind,” Phillips said. “The first series was a little sloppy, a little rusty, but that’s to be expected. We always know that Franklin’s going to be a well-coached physical team; that’s why I love scrimmaging them.”
The two teams started with a 10-play series, then transitioned into down and distance from certain spots on the field for some situational work. Andrews found the end zone three times with its first-string offense, while the Panthers only scored against the Wildcats’ second-string defense.
With Donovan Bateman limited to a few snaps at quarterback as a precaution, Isaac Weaver took most of the snaps at the position. Though it’s not where Andrews will want him to line up on offense, Weaver made some good throws and the Wildcats were able to move the ball through the air. Bateman is expected to start next week.
The Wildcats did have their full personnel on defense though, which played their typical physical brand of football. Whenever Franklin moved the ball, it struggled to get additional yards after contact. Seniors Austin and Drew Martin, Cole Anderson and Weaver all made plays, and Phillips also thought juniors Tyler West and Dalton Rose had good nights.
“Tyler West is a junior, and he’s put a ton of work in the offseason in the weight room,” Phillips said. “You can see he’s a little bit of a different animal this year; he’s stronger and more physical. Dalton Rose is 10 pounds heavier of muscle, and you see him flying around out here.”
The Wildcats will make the roughly three-hour trip out to Hickory next week to face the Hickory Hawks, which they beat 36-11 in Andrews last year. They’re a homeschool, Christian-based team, which concerns Phillips because teams like
that are unpredictable and hard
to get film on. He wants to see his team work out some kinks on offense and, more importantly, learn how to win on the road early in the season.
“This group’s been really good at home,” Phillips said. “And last season we weren’t great on the road. Honestly, that’s a focus, and I imagine that will be one of their goals Monday.”