MOUNTAIN PINE -- As if having less than two consecutive weeks of practice before your first game is not bad enough, Mountain Pine is facing off against the only team that defeated it last season.
The Red Devils, having recently come off a quarantine that saw the entire team sidelined for two weeks, take to the field tonight at 7 p.m. for their season opener against the Episcopal Collegiate Wildcats.
"We still have concerns about our ability to be in shape since we has that two week quarantine," Red Devils head coach Sam Counce said Thursday. "Mentally, we're ready, but physically, you know, with the heat and, and being out and -- I'm just not sure about it. I and the other coaches have to do a really good job substituting and play selection, so that we just don't run our kids just to death too early like we did last year."
The lack of time to practice has also led Counce to have to ease up on some of the pressure that he has traditionally shown in practice.
"It's been tough," he said. "You know, we ran them hard last week, worked them hard, hot. And then you get that week and then this week, you've got to get their legs back, and get them ready to go like that. But as far as injuries or anything like that, we really don't; we've been real careful. And that may bite us, too. Physically, we've always tried to be real physical, but you know, you can get people hurt out there when they're not in shape."
Even though Mountain Pine is playing its second year of eight-man football, the team still does not have as many players as Counce would like, especially with the coaching staff having to closely monitor players for exhaustion and injuries.
"It'll be a challenge," he said. "I promise. It is gonna be us staying on top of every position in the situations of who we can and can't put in at that time. You know, we can't put a slow kid out there at corner as a sub, you know. We've got to pay attention in the situation and do what's best for us.
"And on the other hand some of our kids kind of, they've got to understand they're tougher than they think they are. They can push through some of this stuff. You know, I don't want them to feel like just because they're breathing hard, they need to come out. On the other hand, I've gotta be cognitive of injury and things like that and make sure they don't get hurt or overheated."
The Wildcats are an experienced eight-man team that has plenty of speed and the ability to stretch the field with a solid quarterback, Counce explained.
"I'm concerned about their quickness, speed, and being able to complete the pass, and moving, you know, moving the ball like that," he said. "I think we're OK being able to stop the run. You know, that doesn't mean they're not going to run it some, but my concern is them being able to step back and throw the ball and complete it and gash us pretty good like that."
Mountain Pine got some extra experience against Episcopal Collegiate this summer during two team camps, but that does not ease Counce's mind much.
"They've got some guys out there receiver when they get in doubles that they can really get the ball to," he sad. "The quarterback does a good job setting his feet, getting rid of it, and that's my concern. Because whenever a kid is good at that, that means they've thrown the ball a lot and these receivers can catch, too. You know, you're not gonna practice that and not get good at it and not complete passes."
Regardless of the situation, Counce said that it is great to be back in action on a Friday night at home.
"It's nice; it's what you work for," he said. "It's good, and the people are excited. You know, we're coming off a great year last year, and that has no bearing on this year, but it still puts a little pep in your step and gives you some confidence. And that's kind of where we're at. We feel pretty good about ourselves because we have some talent. I mean, that's no big secret. That's not something that I can say, 'We're not very good.' And, you know, that wouldn't be a correct assumption of our team, and there's no reason for me to say that because we've got those two running backs that are still good. ... If we can mature a little bit in some places, we'll be as good as we were last year."
Kickoff at Stanley May Field is set for 7 p.m.