PREP FOOTBALL: James pleased with Cougars; Saints finding their niche

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 21, 2018 5:51 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

Positivity.

Commitment.

Each has been a vital tool for the Goldsboro High and Southern Wayne football teams in the offseason.

"With the kids you can tell there is a better, positive attitude right now," second-year Cougars head coach Elvin James said. "The discipline has been tremendous. They are buying into the program, learning to trust the process and believe.

"They listen to the coaches as well."

Driver's Ed, summer school and AAU basketball have depleted the Saints' cupboard since workouts began last week.

There are no signs of discouragement.

"The fact we're having a consistent attendance, our numbers are a little bit up from last year," SW head coach Ronnie McClary Jr. said. "We are seeing a commitment with the upperclassmen and that's kind of feeding down to the guys coming from the middle schools. As long as they are showing up, we can teach them."

The county foes got their first look at each other during a 7-on-7 passing league affair Wednesday evening at the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex.

Wilson Beddingfield joined the session.

The teams engaged in 15-minute games, but play was initially halted due to lightning that accompanied a passing thunderstorm. A light rain fell as action resumed with Goldsboro facing the Bruins on one end of the field and Southern Wayne working against a second set of Bruins at the other end.

Goldsboro seemed at ease.

Brody Morton, a rising senior, completed a pass near the goal line.

"Got to get it up, it would have been a touchdown," shouted a GHS coach.

On the next down, Morton threaded the needle to Dorian "Cash" Rodgers between two defenders.

That's one.

Beddingfield picked off Morton on the next series.

"We're ahead of the ballgame compared to last year at this time," James said. "Now that we're on the field for 7-on-7, we can actually put in the offense and defense. The kids have come in [to workouts] in better shape as well.

"Now, we've got to get everybody on the same page."

While the Cougars displayed their athleticism, the Saints used their first defensive series as a teaching moment.

Each player received a quick word of encouragement.

Each player got a pat of assurance.

"What we've wanted to do is just get a look at everybody," McClary Jr. said. "We've been shifting guys around at different skill positions. We want to see what 10th-graders we can pull up, and also check to see if our veterans have still got it or show there are things they need to work on.

"We're also checking their psyches [spirit] against good defenses and offenses the caliber of Goldsboro and Wilson Beddingfield."