By W. Patrick Queen
Sports Writer
As every football fan knows, following your favorite team throughout the season will have its highs and lows, but it is how you deal with those peaks and valleys that can make the difference as a fan. The same is true for the team.
This is where Jacket Nation and the team found themselves when last Friday night's game with the Allegheny Spartans was postponed. To say that the team has gotten off to a rocky start might seem understated to some. However, missing the chance to keep moving forward was definitely a blow to the team, especially since they had spent most of the week preparing for their upcoming game and possible first win.
It's been said, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." When asked about the lemons his team has been handed, coach Chad McClure's response was, " Let's just say we are using this time to get healthy and stronger as we work on our conditioning. Also, we are getting better in our blocking and tackling assignments and get sharper on our pass routes and kickoff and punt coverages." When queried regarding postponing last week's game, McClure said, "It was a tough decision, but we will always ere on the side of caution when it comes to our players' health and safety." McClure said he worked closely with Allegheny's coach on the reschedule. "We both agreed that postponing the game gave each of us an opportunity to get our players healthy then plan to play, hopefully, on September 24th since both teams have a bye that Friday."
As for Friday night's upcoming game with Lookout Valley High of Chattanooga, Tenn., coach McClure is optimistic that the game will be played and that the team, even under the difficult situation of postponing games, will be ready.
This week's goal for the Coach and his staff has been to get the players ready for Friday's challenge against a team with similar size and playing abilities. Unfortunately, the team has a lot of things on their mind as they are concerned about their teammates, Clay County Schools staff and family members battling the virus.
Kickoff for the home game against Lookout Valley is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10