FOOTBALL TAB: Wayne Christian's Pinder cautions team that varsity action is much different than JV

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 19, 2016 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

The season-ending loss in 2015 -- Wayne Christian's inaugural leap into football -- remains vivid to Scott Pinder.

He asked the team if they had fun.

Shouts of "yes sir!" came from the players.

Although disappointment shrouded their faces, Pinder saw a twinkle of hunger in the players' eyes. With the program's first-ever varsity season on the horizon, he made a commitment, too.

"We've not really had a weight-lifting program before," Pinder said. "I committed to come out here on Tuesdays and Thursdays from four to six (p.m.). We opened it (the gym) up. They came. They worked hard.

"That started before school let out (for the summer). Some of them were in weight-lifting classes because of PE. I had a parent help get it started.

"I was real pleased to see that they wanted to do that."

Pinder noticed a significant change in his team during the opening day of practice. The Eagles flexed their muscles on the offensive and defensive fronts, tackled better and flew around the football.

He didn't anticipate the speed.

Nor did he foresee the talent or athleticsm.

"Usually you have one or two, maybe a third standout athlete, but we have at least -- I think -- six of those guys," Pinder said. "I was concerned about not having the talent to be effective. I rate our practices... do it for encouragement.

"We can't have below-average practices to compete against the teams we're going to be playing, so we've got to have above average to superior practices to be able to compete."

Wayne Christian's schedule is loaded with teams that have played for multiple state championships -- and won -- on either the 1-A or 2-A levels in either 8-man or 11-man football.

The physicality of the schedule concerns Pinder, who will call upon at least six two-way starters -- maybe seven. That lack of depth and possible injuries could take a toll on the 14-player roster.

Pinder said it's a "challenge" he faces.

Some varsity positions remain question marks. But Pinder is convinced he's got the outside ends who might not necessarily tackle the ball carrier on the corner, but force him to turn back inside so the linebackers can make the plays.

"I've told them that you're dealing with guys that have been in programs for a while. This is not their first show," said Pinder, who will also oversee the JV program directed by second-year staff member Victor Young.

"They know how to be on the giving end instead of the receiving end of hard hits. We told them every play you're going to hear helmets and shoulder pads crashing together, and you're going to feel that.

"Do you want to be on the giving end or the receiving end? That's what we've tried to kind of put in their heads and hopefully they want to be on the giving end of it."

Anchoring the offensive line are junior tackle Junior Tabe (5-foot-10, 195 pounds), freshman snapper Luke Benge (5-7, 175) and freshman Darden Bynum (5-5, 180).

Pinder could play senior Kanin Preskitt, a skilled athlete who returned to Wayne Christian this season, could get the nod at quarterback. Sophomores Jaxon Bauer and Jeremy Bentley are his backups and both could see more playing time in the secondary.

Gavin Wiley returns in the backfield.

"He's our bulldog," Pinder said. "He will run over you. He's short, stocky and just strong. I have really struggled with not putting him on the line (as a pulling guard) because I don't want to take him out of the backfield.

"He's one of our best linebackers."

Opponents can't overlook Will White, who emerged as the team's offensive player last season. He, along with Wiley, led the Eagles on the defensive side of the ball, too.

Pinder has set high expectations.

The success will depend upon their ability to mesh as a group, and work together on and off the field. They must listen to their coaches during practice and follow the lead set by the captains on Friday night.

"There are some teams that are going to be huge challenges for us," Pinder said. "But the rest, I think we can play right there with them. If they come off that field and leave blood, sweat and tears and I can't find a complaint, I'm not going to be disappointed."