Johnson: Cougars are battle tested for ECC 2A football

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 6, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Just before Goldsboro's players and coaches bowed their heads for a prayer after a loss to state-ranked Scotland County, head coach Bennett Johnson said, "let's be Ayden-Grifton 2014."

One year ago, Ayden-Grifton finished non-conference play 0-6. The Chargers claimed the inaugural Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference championship and advanced to the eastern semifinals of the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Johnson has no doubts the Cougars can do the same.

"Playing a tough schedule doesn't mean a hill of beans if it doesn't make you any better, and I really think it has," said Johnson, whose team faced five playoff teams -- including two eastern finalists -- during its six-game non-conference slate.

"If anything, our guys are battle tested ... have faced adversity which only makes you stronger."

Now it's a new season.

Goldsboro (0-6 overall) launches its second ECC 2-A campaign Friday at South Lenoir. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. The Cougars have won five consecutive conference openers and 16 overall in 37 tries since 1977.

"Five games (in conference) is going to be tough night in, night out," Johnson said. "But we feel like we can compete within our conference, the kids believe that, so it's a matter of coming out (and playing well). Ayden-Grifton didn't win a non-conference game last season and won the conference.

"That's our rally cry right now."

Since the opening day of preseason, several players have relinquished their uniforms for a variety of reasons. Two players realized they couldn't buy into Johnson's philosophy and quit. Two players opted to transfer to Hobbton and Southern Wayne. Another has been suffering chronic migraines and could miss the remainder of the season.

Although their absences have further depleted an already depth-thin squad, the players who have remained have proven they believe in the coaching staff. They've also gained confidence in themselves despite the scoreboard not showing in their favor during the first seven weeks of regular-season play.

The morale has stayed positive.

The work has improved tremendously.

Johnson challenged his seniors after the Scotland game to take complete ownership of the team. The coaching staff has been stepping back slowly each week to see who will assume the leadership role of a youth-laden, but talented squad as it begins its most-important stretch of the season.

No ECC team posted more than two wins during their respective non-conference schedules and each looks to snap a mutiple-loss streak. None have reached the 100-point plateau in offensive points scored.

"We're thin, but the guys play their butts off," Johnson said. "We have five or six guys at times playing both ways and they're on the line. There is no complaining, they do it. When you're a small team, it can create adversity because you're low in numbers, but it also creates camaraderie because you've got to be willing to lay down for the guy beside you.

"The team is getting closer, tighter ... improving to the point where I think we have a chance to have a successful conference season."

And be the Ayden-Grifton of 2014.