Despite rocky start, Reynolds optimistic
(pictured above: Reynolds’ Jeremiah Brown runs for yardage.)
After three games, Reynolds is below .500. Yet, there’s strong evidence that the Demons could prove themselves as worthy contenders in Central Piedmont Conference junior varsity football.
“At this point, we’re still putting all the pieces together on both sides of the ball,” said Coach David Hamlin. “We’re young, but we have a good number of versatile people who can play multiple positions on defense.”
After starting the season at 0-2, Reynolds bounced back with a 14-0 victory over Ashe County last week. In that game, officials stopped playing late in the second quarter because of thunder and lightning. Frank Hines opened the scoring with a 33-yard punt return and Jevon Marsh added a four-yard touchdown run. Defensively, Clayton Philbrick led the way with three sacks.
Hamlin
Hamlin liked what he saw against Ashe County, but because of the shortened game, he wasn’t able to make a full assessment of his team’s progress. “I was hoping that I’d get the chance to see how we would perform over four quarters,” said Hamlin. “From what I saw, there were some very positive signs. We gave our best effort in every phase of the game.”
The Demons’ back-to-back road losses could prove to be pivotal in how their season turns out. In a 21-0 loss to East Forsyth, the defense allowed three touchdowns in the first half, but held the Eagles scoreless in the second half. The following week, RJR gave Carver all it could handle in a 27-21 overtime loss. The Demons defense put points on the board when Jaishun White intercepted a pass and ran it back 45 yards for a touchdown.
“The Carver game was a confidence builder,” said Hamlin. “Our kids saw for themselves that what we’re teaching really does work. They saw what happens when you fill your lanes on defense and they saw how well the veer (offense) works when each player does his job.”
Reynolds doesn’t have a wealth of experience on this year’s roster. More than half the team is comprised of freshmen. Hamlin understands that how well his team plays hinges heavily on how quickly the Demons first-year players continue to mature and develop.
“We have several athletes who have never played organized football,” he said. “They’re learning and we’re getting better. Clearly, we’re a work in progress. The key for us is to keep improving week after week. Our kids are always asking questions and that’s good because it shows that they want to improve as individuals and as a team. They’re buying into what we’re teaching. We just want to continue on the path that we’re on.”
Reynolds (1-2) looks to reach the .500 mark tonight (Sept. 11) when it plays Glenn in a home game at Deaton-Thompson Stadium. Kickoff time is 6 p.m.
