PREP FOOTBALL: Preseason mantra is Goldsboro's 'golden rule'

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 17, 2018 5:51 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

During its preseason preparation on the gridiron, Goldsboro has lived by the mantra "discipline, alignment, assignment ... Cougar football."

Seems simple, right?

It does to first-year head coach Timothy Ray.

"We want to play disciplined, be in the right positions, know our assignments and do them well ... just play Cougar football," said Ray, who expects his team to live by the motto each day.

"If we do that, we'll be perfectly fine."

The rallying cry starts tonight.

Led by 14 seniors, Goldsboro launches its 2018 campaign at home against Hobbton. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Cougar Stadium.

Ray is attempting to become just the fourth head coach in program history -- since 1960 -- to emerge victorious in his debut. Should the old blue-and-maize succeed, he'll join a list that includes mentor Elvin James, Eric Reid and Charles Lane during that span.

The Cougars displayed their athleticism in 7-on-7 passing games this summer, and pleased Ray with their efforts in last week's scrimmages at South Lenoir. The base offensive and defensive packages in the playbook have been absorbed by the players.

The big improvement has come in the secondary.

The quintet is directed by Terrell Valentine, a 5-foot-10 senior who earned a spot on the East Central 2-A All-Conference team last fall. Working with him are senior corner Naz Wooten (5-9, 145), junior defensive back Jykeis McLean (5-9, 170), senior defensive back Daveje Shannon (5-10, 165) and junior strong safety Dorian Rodgers (6-0, 170).

"They really stepped up, are a strength to our team this year," Ray said. "Last year, our secondary didn't have much depth, but this year we have some really good skill guys."

Hobbton heads into this season with a new coach, Joe Salas.

He's known for throwing the pigskin around the yard, and like Goldsboro, schemes to find a way to get his most athletic players into open space.

Ray viewed some clips of the Wildcats from a scrimmage held in Pikeville. He didn't get a chance to see them live during the Sampson County Jamboree.

"They're a much-better ballclub than teams are going to expect," Ray said. "One thing we want to do is make sure that we stop what they are doing and make them adjust to us. You can't really figure out what you're good at until you hit against some real competition.

"That's our main thing, figuring out this week what we do well ... perfecting it to go on through the season."

Goldsboro is 4-14 in season openers since 2000.