Sports
Turnaround due to chemistry
By Griffin Pritchard
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What a difference a year can make.
“I think our kids were just bound and determined to not have another season like last year,” said Bobby Carr, coach of the Edgewood Academy Wildcats.
“They started working hard in the weight room. That translated to hard work in the spring game and then over the summer. Now, we are enjoying the fruits of their work. But each week we focus on getting better as a team.”
Last season the Wildcats finished 3-7 as a member of Class AAA and missed the playoffs for the first time in Carr’s tenure. This year, however, Edgewood is setting the standard in Class AA with an 8-0 record, its first region crown since 2003 and a No. 2 ranking, behind potential state championship opponent No. 1 Monroe Academy.
“One team. One goal. Everyone knew from day one our goal is to win a state championship,” said Carr, whose Wildcats are off to their best start since 2002.
“If you look at the senior leadership we have on this team right now it’s unbelievable. In the past we’ve had great talent but not much leadership or had great leadership and be short on talent.”
This year we have a balance of both.”
Offensively, Carr changed philosophy from a spread-it-out offense to a balanced attack to utilize all of his weapons on offense.
Chris Tice, senior quarterback, has thrown for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Cody Lee, senior runningback who led the Wildcats through the turbulent 2007 season, this year has surpassed 750 yards on the ground with nine touchdowns. Tanner Drennan, senior fullback, has rushed for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Senior tight end Dillon NesSmith has caught 25 passes for 598 yards and 10 touchdowns. Matt Moore has caught 16 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Hunter Kilcrease, has caught nine passes for 193 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown.
“We wanted to make defenses have to have a plan to come and play us,” said Carr. “I think with us using the running game more, that’s taken some pressure off Chris (Tice). Cody and Tanner are doing a good job, and when you can effectively run the football, that opens passing lanes. Chris is having a better chance to see Matt or Dillon and go through his progression. In the past, our quarterbacks were called on to do a lot because we didn’t run the ball as much.”
Defensively, however, the Wildcats have been led by Jordan Powell with 25 tackles and 39 assists and Drennan with 21 tackles and 19 assists. Defensivebacks Blake Striplin, who last week set an Edgewood record and tied the Alabama Independent School Association record for most interceptions in a game with four, and Bobby Skinner have been daring opposing quarterbacks to throw their direction all year.
The Wildcats are a lock for the playoffs and will more than likely open the postseason by hosting Clarke Prep, the No. 4 finisher in Region 2. However, Edgewood’s opponents for the next two weeks are less than stellar. The Wildcats host Evangel Friday and then travel to Taylor Road Academy in Montgomery Oct. 31. The two schools, a Class AA and a Class AAA squad respectively, have a combined mark of 3-14 and has only scored a total of 75 points (Evangel) and 137 (Taylor Road).
“I gave the guys Monday off,” said Carr. “It was a chance for them to rest and get their legs back under them. My biggest fear is that we have this great season and then go to the first round of the playoffs and lose to Clarke Prep. They are a good football team and I just don’t want to have that letdown. Our guys have worked too hard for that to happen.”
Friday’s game against Evangel is the final home game of the regular season and will be senior night for the Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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