PREP FOOTBALL: Gators start indoors; Rebels slip, slide

By Aviel Smolka
Published in Sports on August 1, 2018 5:51 AM

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By AVIEL SMOLKA

asmolka@newsargus.com

The Spring Creek and North Duplin football teams are currently experiencing long nights and short days.

The poor weather Monday night forced Spring Creek to move its practice into the gymnasium. The Gators managed to get on the practice field Tuesday night.

North Duplin's players slipped and slid through a rain-soaked field on Monday, but conditions were much better on Tuesday.

The Rebels spent most of their first and second practice installing the offense, trying to get new players caught up, and working on getting their bodies in position to make a block or tackle.

The players were too excited to let the weather dampen their spirits.

"Given our inexperience and youth it's a slow progression trying to build up their skills," North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin said. "There's a lot of teaching time trying to get their bodies in the right position, and correct foot work and pad level issues."

Players are allowed to wear just headgear, non-padded shorts and cleats during the first two days of practice, according to N.C. High School Athletic Association rules.

Martin is taking it slow with his players.

He lost 14 seniors and has just six players returning to a team that went 14-1 and fell to Cherokee in the NCHSAA Class 1-A state title game.

It's a new challenge, but Martin is confident his team is more than up to it.

"We've got a lot of experience we have to develop through practice and games," Martin said. "The players are working really hard and really well together. Their attitude has been great and they'll keep improving.

"My expectations are the same every year no matter who's coming back. I just want the kids to get a little better every day and let that carry us as far as it can carry us."

Spring Creek accomplished a lot during its first two practices in "The Swamp."

"Since we couldn't be on the field we got some conditioning in and did some first-team walk throughs," said Gators head coach Daniel Robinson. "Primarily we spent time putting in our base plays on offense."

Robinson has a young team that returns just six starters from last year. He spent the summer working with them on their strength and conditioning, trying to make sure the Gators can compete in a tough and physical East Central 2-A Conference.

"The biggest challenge with a young team is our lack of physical size," Robinson said. "Building strength in the weight room helps us compensate for that lack of size. This may sound cliché but I just want us to compete, and not have the game be over at halftime."

Robinson credits his coaching staff preventing the kids from not being too hard on themselves.

"We have a really good coaching staff that keeps the kids in good spirits," Robinson said. "Kudos to my coaching staff to building relationships with the players and keeping them motivated."

The Gators made changes in their offense this season, going from the spread to the run-oriented Wing-T. Robinson is hoping the new offense will let his players maximize their potential.

"We are putting kids in positions where they're more involved," Robinson said. "There will be a lot of moving pieces on each play. The Wing-T will keep the kids tuned in."