‘It’s brought some life back’
Fayetteville’s private schools set for 2020 football season
By Rodd Baxley
The Fayetteville Observer
ChuckWebsterisn’t sure what kind of football team he’ll have this season at Trinity Christian School, but he’s certain of one thing as the Crusaders prepare for kickoff in 2020.
“As far as my team, we’re pretty good with the procedures,” Webster said, referring to the COVID-19 safety protocols put in place by the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association.
“Now, when it comes to actually catching, passing, tackling, blocking … I don’t know. I know we’re really good at following procedures though. We’ll see about the rest on Friday.”
After being sidelined for more than 10 months following an offseason filled with uncertainty because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Crusaders are set to begin a six-game schedule on Sept. 25 against Harrells Christian Academy in Fayetteville.
“Everything’s going well. Still, everything is automatically going to be fragile,”saidWebster, whose team is coming off its first state championship as an 11-man football program.
“We’re clear and we just touched base with Harrells — they’re clear. We ordered some extra equipment and stuff to kind of help prevent any spread of the virus.”
Fayetteville Christian School will play its six-game schedule on the road because of construction at the school, according to FCS athletic director Leslie Snyder.
The Warriors will open the season on Friday at Grace Christian in Raleigh. Each game for FCS and Trinity is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
“It’s given us a starting point and somewhat of a focusing point,” said FCS coach Nelson Soriano.
“It’s brought some life back into us.”
The NCISAA cleared its member schools to begin football practice on Sept. 8 and start competition the week of Sept. 21. Pre-workout screenings and intense sanitizing continue to lead the way for Soriano and Webster as game day approaches.
“I’ve been doing this a certain way, probably being super-cautious until we were finally comfortable going in full pads,” Webster said of the past two weeks.
“We mixed it up a little bit and finally got some contact in on Thursday.”
Soriano described Fayetteville Christian’s practices as “interesting.”
“We’ve been trying to get everything together and go out there and practice, safe and soundly,” he added.
Trinity, which blasted SouthLake Christian in the 2019 NCISAA Division III title game with a 64-16 victory in November, will play three games at home and three more on the road against what Webster expects to be a “competitive” Big East Conference.
]
But Webster doesn’t expect the Crusaders, who won three state titles between 2007-09 playing 8-man football, to play up to those state-title standards on Friday. “To put things in perspective, I don’t know how it couldn’t be sloppy,” Webster said.
“The kids haven’t really been able to get after it like they usually were in the spring, as far as the amount of working out and getting on the field. … I’m just looking forward to my guys showing a level of toughness and competitiveness. We’ll figure stuff out.”
Soriano agreed.
“I think it will be an awesome practice, seeing it like an awesome scrimmage,” he said of the opening week.
In addition to worrying about safety protocols and the play on the field, teams will have another challenge presented to them this fall.
“There won’t be any fans at all. That will be different,” Webster said.
“From a mental standpoint, we just have to create our own energy. At the high school level, the fans can bring a nice surge of energy to you.”
Soriano expects the constant travel and lack of fans to make things “a little tough” for the Warriors, but he’s trying to keep his players focused on what they can control. “Now it’s more like, ‘Do your job and don’t worry about the stands,’” he continued.
“2020 is what it is. Get your little piece of the pie done.”
After not winning a game in two seasons, the Warriors switched to 8-man football in 2019 and won a pair of games. Soriano said seniors Shahron James and J.J. Soriano, along with sophomore quarterback David Herden, have led the team throughout preseason practice.
Safety continues to be at the center of Soriano’s discussions with those leaders and the rest of his players.
“We have conversations about guys being responsible, knowing who you’re being around,” he said.
“Remember, this is a one-time thing. If you get sick, it’s all over. Be responsible.”
Despite what seems like a constant barrage of setbacks, Webster said his guys are “super excited” to have games on the schedule in 2020, rather than 2021.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association announced in August that football would not be played at public schools until February due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cumberland County’s 10 public schools continue to tweak their schedules.
“They’ve handled this pandemic better than many adults and they’re excited to be able to play football,” Webster said of his players.
“They understand what we have going on. If you can get that schedule in now in the fall, to me, that’s the best bet.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver. com.
Fayetteville’s private schools set for 2020 football season
By Rodd Baxley
The Fayetteville Observer
ChuckWebsterisn’t sure what kind of football team he’ll have this season at Trinity Christian School, but he’s certain of one thing as the Crusaders prepare for kickoff in 2020.
“As far as my team, we’re pretty good with the procedures,” Webster said, referring to the COVID-19 safety protocols put in place by the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association.
“Now, when it comes to actually catching, passing, tackling, blocking … I don’t know. I know we’re really good at following procedures though. We’ll see about the rest on Friday.”
After being sidelined for more than 10 months following an offseason filled with uncertainty because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Crusaders are set to begin a six-game schedule on Sept. 25 against Harrells Christian Academy in Fayetteville.
“Everything’s going well. Still, everything is automatically going to be fragile,”saidWebster, whose team is coming off its first state championship as an 11-man football program.
“We’re clear and we just touched base with Harrells — they’re clear. We ordered some extra equipment and stuff to kind of help prevent any spread of the virus.”
Fayetteville Christian School will play its six-game schedule on the road because of construction at the school, according to FCS athletic director Leslie Snyder.
The Warriors will open the season on Friday at Grace Christian in Raleigh. Each game for FCS and Trinity is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
“It’s given us a starting point and somewhat of a focusing point,” said FCS coach Nelson Soriano.
“It’s brought some life back into us.”
The NCISAA cleared its member schools to begin football practice on Sept. 8 and start competition the week of Sept. 21. Pre-workout screenings and intense sanitizing continue to lead the way for Soriano and Webster as game day approaches.
“I’ve been doing this a certain way, probably being super-cautious until we were finally comfortable going in full pads,” Webster said of the past two weeks.
“We mixed it up a little bit and finally got some contact in on Thursday.”
Soriano described Fayetteville Christian’s practices as “interesting.”
“We’ve been trying to get everything together and go out there and practice, safe and soundly,” he added.
Trinity, which blasted SouthLake Christian in the 2019 NCISAA Division III title game with a 64-16 victory in November, will play three games at home and three more on the road against what Webster expects to be a “competitive” Big East Conference.
]
But Webster doesn’t expect the Crusaders, who won three state titles between 2007-09 playing 8-man football, to play up to those state-title standards on Friday. “To put things in perspective, I don’t know how it couldn’t be sloppy,” Webster said.
“The kids haven’t really been able to get after it like they usually were in the spring, as far as the amount of working out and getting on the field. … I’m just looking forward to my guys showing a level of toughness and competitiveness. We’ll figure stuff out.”
Soriano agreed.
“I think it will be an awesome practice, seeing it like an awesome scrimmage,” he said of the opening week.
In addition to worrying about safety protocols and the play on the field, teams will have another challenge presented to them this fall.
“There won’t be any fans at all. That will be different,” Webster said.
“From a mental standpoint, we just have to create our own energy. At the high school level, the fans can bring a nice surge of energy to you.”
Soriano expects the constant travel and lack of fans to make things “a little tough” for the Warriors, but he’s trying to keep his players focused on what they can control. “Now it’s more like, ‘Do your job and don’t worry about the stands,’” he continued.
“2020 is what it is. Get your little piece of the pie done.”
After not winning a game in two seasons, the Warriors switched to 8-man football in 2019 and won a pair of games. Soriano said seniors Shahron James and J.J. Soriano, along with sophomore quarterback David Herden, have led the team throughout preseason practice.
Safety continues to be at the center of Soriano’s discussions with those leaders and the rest of his players.
“We have conversations about guys being responsible, knowing who you’re being around,” he said.
“Remember, this is a one-time thing. If you get sick, it’s all over. Be responsible.”
Despite what seems like a constant barrage of setbacks, Webster said his guys are “super excited” to have games on the schedule in 2020, rather than 2021.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association announced in August that football would not be played at public schools until February due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cumberland County’s 10 public schools continue to tweak their schedules.
“They’ve handled this pandemic better than many adults and they’re excited to be able to play football,” Webster said of his players.
“They understand what we have going on. If you can get that schedule in now in the fall, to me, that’s the best bet.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver. com.
