NEWBERRY — The Newberry Academy Eagles have been working to create more depth as a team for their away game tonight against W. Wyman King.
The Eagles traveled to Blackville two Fridays ago and defeated the Jefferson Davis Academy Raiders in the season opener 48-26. Tonight, they face the Knights. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m.
Head Coach Benji Sease said they worked on fundamentals and corrected mistakes made from their first game, which is usually not possible when playing back to back games.
Going into varsity football this year, Sease said they were aware they would be coming into the middle of a scheduling cycle. Sease said they were told they might have more away games than home, but were pleasantly surprised to get the homes games that they got.
“We have also tried to get in better condition and move some players around in positions they haven’t played to create depth,” Sease said.
Winning the season opener against Blackville allowed the team to gain momentum and confidence, especially since it was the program’s first varsity win in 17 years.
“We have tried to keep our young men grounded in that one win does not make a season and we have eight more games to play,” Sease said.
Sease said tonight’s game strategy offensively will be to play better on the line.
“We have tried to simplify our blocking schemes so we are not having to think about assignments,” Sease said. “We have the young men that are capable to play there, but they have to gain some confidence.”
As coaches and as a team, Sease said they have to be more committed to the run to take pressure off of the quarterback.
Defensively, Sease said the team has to finish tackles. Against Blackville, Sease said they got to the ball carrier, but could not finish the play by making the tackle.
Sease said Newberry Academy’s first year playing W.W. King in middle school football had the Knights winning the first game and the Eagles winning the second.
Last year, Sease said they only played them once, but the Knights came out with the win.
Starting center Hunter Taylor has a wrist injury and starting running back Daniel Bannister has an ankle injury, but Sease said both should be fine by game time.
“Every week is a new season and we have to continue to work hard and improve,” Sease said.