Time to get on the field’: Staying healthy will mean everything for CCS football in 2020
By Jimmy Lewis jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
One key aspect for the Community Christian School eight-player football team is the fact that the Cyclones will be guaranteed a berth in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II playoffs this season.
But getting there in one piece will be among the primary challenges for head coach Andy Jackson’s team.
While the junior varsity squad presents with a healthy 15 players, the varsity squad has just 10 bodies. Three of those players will come over from the JV ranks on a weekly basis.
“I just think it’s time to get on the field,” Jackson said following practice Wednesday afternoon on the CCS field. “My biggest concern, of course, is numbers. We talked about that before. With 10 kids, it’s keeping people healthy and rested to play at full capacity.”
CCS will be part of a five-team Colonial Carolina Conference in 2020, which also makes up the balance of NCISAA Division II with a combined Lawrence/Albemarle team, Kinston Bethel Christian, Wayne Christian and Belhaven Pungo Christian. Due to Wayne Christian using homeschool players on its roster, it will not be eligible for the playoffs although games against the Eagles will count in the conference standings — leaving just four schools to automatically qualify.
“There’s not a big peak of talent,” Jackson said. “All 10 of them are pretty good players. So that helps out. It’s not like eight guys and then two that can’t help us. All 10 can help us, and we’re going to count on all 10 of them.”
The Cyclones will open their season Friday night at home against Lawrence/Albemarle to begin a three-game homestand. CCS was to open the season Sept. 25 against Halifax Academy before Halifax opted out of the fall season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Jackson is assisted by Bobby Jackson and Michael Wheeless, along with former Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf head coach and athletic director Leonard Baker.
IRONMAN FOOTBALL
There will be few, if any, plays off for the Cyclones this season.
“We’ve preached to them about that and having to play through some things,” Jackson said. “And I think the kids that we have has got the mentality to do that.”
However, Friday night will mark the first extended exposure to live hitting and tackling as the Cyclones, by necessity, have had to curb the physical element in practice.
“I’m worried about we haven’t been able to bang a lot because we don’t have the numbers and I’m worried about somebody getting hurt,” Jackson said. “So we haven’t been able to as much tackling as I’d like to do. And I’m concerned about how we’re going to tackle. And then of course, how are we going to tackle when we get tired?”
CCS will deploy a two-quarterback system at times on offense with sophomore Noah Pierce and junior Landon Beamon. Both have similar skill sets when directing the Cyclones.
“I think Landon probably could be a quarterback for a good high school team if he was at a bigger school,” Jackson said. “He’s tall, he can see, I think he would really be good. He’s a skilled athlete.”
But in an ideal world, the majority of snaps will skew to Pierce. That’s no knock against Beamon, who figures to be a centerpiece of the Cyclones ground game.
Jackson took no issue with the comparison of Beamon to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, at least in terms of usage and volume. He wants defenses to key on Beamon to open up opportunities for the rest of the unit.
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“That’s exactly who I believe he is,” Jackson opined of Beamon. “He’s very smart, he’s very gifted athletically. Every drill we do, he does a phenomenal job with. And he loves to play — he’s very durable. I’m real excited about the kind of season he can have.”
Sneaking off the line to catch passes will be senior tight end Jacob Hollingsworth. At 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Hollingsworth is already the vocal leader of CCS practices and stands to be a safety blanket in the passing game for Pierce.
Other targets in the passing game will include freshman Carter Boswell and senior Trey Barnes. On obvious passing downs or come-from-behind situations, Beamon can shift to quarterback while Pierce joins freshman Cameron Reason out wide.
The offensive line, another unit that will have to turn around and play on the defensive side of the football, will trot out freshman Matthew Jackson (and the nephew of Andy Jackson) at center, senior Tyler Rogers and junior Brandon Tyner — all well shy of 200 pounds.
Junior Graham Norville is a second tight end option when the Cyclones bring out compressed and jumbo packages, also serving as the running back when Beamon goes behind center.
Defensively, Hollingsworth will shift to a nose guard spot in a 3-4 defense or an interior lineman slot in the CCS 4-2 formation.
Norville and Beamon are the linebackers and considered steady tacklers, a necessary component of the wide-open eight-player game.
Barnes and Pierce will be the cornerbacks in a 4-2 alignment and will be trusted with frequent man-to-man coverage responsibilities. Reason can spell a fatigued defensive back and will be the only DB on the field when the Cyclones utilize the 3-4.
“Open-field tackles are what you’re looking for,” Jackson said. “A kid that can tackle in the open field, that will really help you out because there’s going to be times when somebody breaks free.”
Without a true kicker on the roster, CCS will be attempting two-point conversions in lieu of extra points. Pierce will handle the kickoff and punting duties, with most kickoffs expected to be of the onside variety in the effort to steal an extra possession — a move not uncommon in the eight-man game.
“Most every team has gone to that,” Jackson said of eight-man onside kicks. “Because of numbers, and because you find out that the time you run down and you kick it to the 20 and you run down there, they’re already back at the 35 and you’re only losing 15 yards. And you have a chance to get the ball.”
The punting game won’t be utilized unless long yardage is faced or the Cyclones are backed up against the goal line.
“As long as we ain’t inside the 25-yard line, we’ll keep going for it!” Jackson said.
Among the four eligible teams for the Division II postseason, Jackson expects to be competitive so long as injury maladies don’t arrive.
“I think we’ll do fine if we can stay healthy,” he said. “Health is going to be a big key. We just have to stay away from (injuries). If we get one, it’s going to be disastrous.”
By Jimmy Lewis jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
One key aspect for the Community Christian School eight-player football team is the fact that the Cyclones will be guaranteed a berth in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II playoffs this season.
But getting there in one piece will be among the primary challenges for head coach Andy Jackson’s team.
While the junior varsity squad presents with a healthy 15 players, the varsity squad has just 10 bodies. Three of those players will come over from the JV ranks on a weekly basis.
“I just think it’s time to get on the field,” Jackson said following practice Wednesday afternoon on the CCS field. “My biggest concern, of course, is numbers. We talked about that before. With 10 kids, it’s keeping people healthy and rested to play at full capacity.”
CCS will be part of a five-team Colonial Carolina Conference in 2020, which also makes up the balance of NCISAA Division II with a combined Lawrence/Albemarle team, Kinston Bethel Christian, Wayne Christian and Belhaven Pungo Christian. Due to Wayne Christian using homeschool players on its roster, it will not be eligible for the playoffs although games against the Eagles will count in the conference standings — leaving just four schools to automatically qualify.
“There’s not a big peak of talent,” Jackson said. “All 10 of them are pretty good players. So that helps out. It’s not like eight guys and then two that can’t help us. All 10 can help us, and we’re going to count on all 10 of them.”
The Cyclones will open their season Friday night at home against Lawrence/Albemarle to begin a three-game homestand. CCS was to open the season Sept. 25 against Halifax Academy before Halifax opted out of the fall season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Jackson is assisted by Bobby Jackson and Michael Wheeless, along with former Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf head coach and athletic director Leonard Baker.
IRONMAN FOOTBALL
There will be few, if any, plays off for the Cyclones this season.
“We’ve preached to them about that and having to play through some things,” Jackson said. “And I think the kids that we have has got the mentality to do that.”
However, Friday night will mark the first extended exposure to live hitting and tackling as the Cyclones, by necessity, have had to curb the physical element in practice.
“I’m worried about we haven’t been able to bang a lot because we don’t have the numbers and I’m worried about somebody getting hurt,” Jackson said. “So we haven’t been able to as much tackling as I’d like to do. And I’m concerned about how we’re going to tackle. And then of course, how are we going to tackle when we get tired?”
CCS will deploy a two-quarterback system at times on offense with sophomore Noah Pierce and junior Landon Beamon. Both have similar skill sets when directing the Cyclones.
“I think Landon probably could be a quarterback for a good high school team if he was at a bigger school,” Jackson said. “He’s tall, he can see, I think he would really be good. He’s a skilled athlete.”
But in an ideal world, the majority of snaps will skew to Pierce. That’s no knock against Beamon, who figures to be a centerpiece of the Cyclones ground game.
Jackson took no issue with the comparison of Beamon to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, at least in terms of usage and volume. He wants defenses to key on Beamon to open up opportunities for the rest of the unit.
\
“That’s exactly who I believe he is,” Jackson opined of Beamon. “He’s very smart, he’s very gifted athletically. Every drill we do, he does a phenomenal job with. And he loves to play — he’s very durable. I’m real excited about the kind of season he can have.”
Sneaking off the line to catch passes will be senior tight end Jacob Hollingsworth. At 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Hollingsworth is already the vocal leader of CCS practices and stands to be a safety blanket in the passing game for Pierce.
Other targets in the passing game will include freshman Carter Boswell and senior Trey Barnes. On obvious passing downs or come-from-behind situations, Beamon can shift to quarterback while Pierce joins freshman Cameron Reason out wide.
The offensive line, another unit that will have to turn around and play on the defensive side of the football, will trot out freshman Matthew Jackson (and the nephew of Andy Jackson) at center, senior Tyler Rogers and junior Brandon Tyner — all well shy of 200 pounds.
Junior Graham Norville is a second tight end option when the Cyclones bring out compressed and jumbo packages, also serving as the running back when Beamon goes behind center.
Defensively, Hollingsworth will shift to a nose guard spot in a 3-4 defense or an interior lineman slot in the CCS 4-2 formation.
Norville and Beamon are the linebackers and considered steady tacklers, a necessary component of the wide-open eight-player game.
Barnes and Pierce will be the cornerbacks in a 4-2 alignment and will be trusted with frequent man-to-man coverage responsibilities. Reason can spell a fatigued defensive back and will be the only DB on the field when the Cyclones utilize the 3-4.
“Open-field tackles are what you’re looking for,” Jackson said. “A kid that can tackle in the open field, that will really help you out because there’s going to be times when somebody breaks free.”
Without a true kicker on the roster, CCS will be attempting two-point conversions in lieu of extra points. Pierce will handle the kickoff and punting duties, with most kickoffs expected to be of the onside variety in the effort to steal an extra possession — a move not uncommon in the eight-man game.
“Most every team has gone to that,” Jackson said of eight-man onside kicks. “Because of numbers, and because you find out that the time you run down and you kick it to the 20 and you run down there, they’re already back at the 35 and you’re only losing 15 yards. And you have a chance to get the ball.”
The punting game won’t be utilized unless long yardage is faced or the Cyclones are backed up against the goal line.
“As long as we ain’t inside the 25-yard line, we’ll keep going for it!” Jackson said.
Among the four eligible teams for the Division II postseason, Jackson expects to be competitive so long as injury maladies don’t arrive.
“I think we’ll do fine if we can stay healthy,” he said. “Health is going to be a big key. We just have to stay away from (injuries). If we get one, it’s going to be disastrous.”
