Young gridiron Cyclones raring to go, but older participation remains a challenge
JIMMY LEWIS | TIMES
By Jimmy Lewis jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
For the Community Christian School eight-player football team, the COVID-19 pandemic both gave and took away from its initial prospects for the 2020 season.
Just how can a virus that still poses a threat to the successful completion of a fall season serve as a boost to a football program, in a sport where the resumption of play is classified as a “high-risk” sport by the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association?
Should the season progress to a full conclusion, the Cyclones will field a junior varsity outfit in 2020 that currently, consists of 18 players. That interest, albeit bathed in eager youth, sows seeds of encouragement for the program’s future.
“Just coming from my standpoint, everybody’s ready to get outside,” CCS head coach Andy Jackson said following Tuesday’s conditioning practice. “I’m ready to get outside and get some normalcy back. I think this is giving them an outlet. I think that’s got something to do with the numbers on JV. They just want to do something.”
But the varsity roster as presently constructed doesn’t enjoy the same depth. Eleven candidates currently reside in the program, with the potential for COVID-19 keeping some former players off the field this season.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Jackson, the eighth-year CCS sideline general who endured a winless season in 2019.
“We’re happy that the young kids are coming out,” Jackson said. “Really right now, I’m disappointed that we’ve actually got five kids in school that’s played varsity football for us, and they’re not out. Some of that has got to do with COVID, and then some just not wanting to play and don’t think they can help.”
Staying away from injuries and illness will be crucial for the Cyclones, who are scheduled to open up a six-game regular season Sept. 25 at home against Halifax Academy.
“We’ve got good kids in those 11 numbers,” Jackson said. “I like the boys that we have.”
Tuesday marked just the second official day of football practice for CCS, and as such, the continuance of the conditioning phase. What is normally a three-day period without shoulder pads and equipment has been extended to Sept. 6 during the 2020 preseason before extra gear can be added.
Tuesday’s 90-minute session resembled a throwback to more certain times. Players were consistently instructed not to lower the crown of the helmet to initiate contact with a tackling dummy, while the offense operated its base plays without going up against a defense.
The football did find itself on the ground via the quarterback-to-center exchange on more than one occasion.
“The JV’s, you’ve got new people in new positions, so I expect to see a little bit more of that,” Jackson said of the early fumbles. “But the varsity, I don’t expect them to put it on the ground.”
The CCS losing streak spans eight games, the entirety of the 2019 season. However, upon getting the chance to play a schedule, Jackson doesn’t anticipate that total climbing much farther.
“I think the varsity can be a big surprise,” Jackson said. “With 11 guys, you’ve got to stay healthy. I think not winning a game last year, I think we’re in shape to where we can win some this year. You never can tell how good you’re going to be until you see what everybody’s got.”
JIMMY LEWIS | TIMES
By Jimmy Lewis jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
For the Community Christian School eight-player football team, the COVID-19 pandemic both gave and took away from its initial prospects for the 2020 season.
Just how can a virus that still poses a threat to the successful completion of a fall season serve as a boost to a football program, in a sport where the resumption of play is classified as a “high-risk” sport by the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association?
Should the season progress to a full conclusion, the Cyclones will field a junior varsity outfit in 2020 that currently, consists of 18 players. That interest, albeit bathed in eager youth, sows seeds of encouragement for the program’s future.
“Just coming from my standpoint, everybody’s ready to get outside,” CCS head coach Andy Jackson said following Tuesday’s conditioning practice. “I’m ready to get outside and get some normalcy back. I think this is giving them an outlet. I think that’s got something to do with the numbers on JV. They just want to do something.”
But the varsity roster as presently constructed doesn’t enjoy the same depth. Eleven candidates currently reside in the program, with the potential for COVID-19 keeping some former players off the field this season.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Jackson, the eighth-year CCS sideline general who endured a winless season in 2019.
“We’re happy that the young kids are coming out,” Jackson said. “Really right now, I’m disappointed that we’ve actually got five kids in school that’s played varsity football for us, and they’re not out. Some of that has got to do with COVID, and then some just not wanting to play and don’t think they can help.”
Staying away from injuries and illness will be crucial for the Cyclones, who are scheduled to open up a six-game regular season Sept. 25 at home against Halifax Academy.
“We’ve got good kids in those 11 numbers,” Jackson said. “I like the boys that we have.”
Tuesday marked just the second official day of football practice for CCS, and as such, the continuance of the conditioning phase. What is normally a three-day period without shoulder pads and equipment has been extended to Sept. 6 during the 2020 preseason before extra gear can be added.
Tuesday’s 90-minute session resembled a throwback to more certain times. Players were consistently instructed not to lower the crown of the helmet to initiate contact with a tackling dummy, while the offense operated its base plays without going up against a defense.
The football did find itself on the ground via the quarterback-to-center exchange on more than one occasion.
“The JV’s, you’ve got new people in new positions, so I expect to see a little bit more of that,” Jackson said of the early fumbles. “But the varsity, I don’t expect them to put it on the ground.”
The CCS losing streak spans eight games, the entirety of the 2019 season. However, upon getting the chance to play a schedule, Jackson doesn’t anticipate that total climbing much farther.
“I think the varsity can be a big surprise,” Jackson said. “With 11 guys, you’ve got to stay healthy. I think not winning a game last year, I think we’re in shape to where we can win some this year. You never can tell how good you’re going to be until you see what everybody’s got.”
