Two teams coming off decidedly different opening night results meet on Friday when Daniel Boone travels to West Ridge for a backyard brawl with the Wolves.
The Trailblazers were overwhelmed in a 56-0 defeat at Clyde A. Erwin (NC) while West Ridge did the same to Volunteer, 47-6.
But Wolves’ coach Justin Hilton said an overreaction to either result is fool’s gold.
“I don’t think anybody on our side is doing that,” said Hilton. “The pats on the back for us should have ended when they got in the car and went home.
“Daniel Boone played a really good team so I’m sure they know they are better than what that score showed. That Erwin team would have been one of the fastest teams around here, one of the fastest teams I’ve seen on film. So that was a real disadvantage for them and I don’t think that tells the tale of how good Daniel Boone really is.”
Longtime ‘Blazer head coach Jeremy Jenkins wasn’t happy with his team’s performance up front on either side of the ball last week.
“We have to be more physical at the line of scrimmage,” Jenkins said. “We have to get lined up right and tackle better and offensively, execute up front to create positive plays.”
Hilton, a former player and coach under Jenkins at Sullivan South, expects corrections will be made.
“I can only imagine what practice this week was like and I’m sure he got some things corrected,” smiled Hilton. “Our line better buckle it up because I’m sure the challenge is coming now.”
Conversely, Hilton was pleased with his young line’s performance against the Falcons.
“Our offensive line played well, especially considering how young they are,” noted Hilton.
West Ridge quarterback Trey Frazier showed zero rust after an extended layoff due to injury mid-season last year, throwing for 232 yards and accounting for four touchdowns.
“We did make some explosive plays in the passing game,” continued Hilton. “Trey was ready to go and our guys were focused. A lot of that was from him.”
The West Ridge defense limited Volunteer to just 151 yards of total offense - 83 on the ground and 68 through the air.
Sam Perry logged a team-high 16 tackles and Hayden Musick had eight takedowns, including three behind the line of scrimmage.
“Defensively anytime you hold someone to under 100 yards rushing and 100 yards passing it’s good night,” said Hilton. “Hayden Musick and Sam Perry played great. It was nice to see those young guys get in there and get after it.”
Of concern for Hilton were the 11 penalty markers for 130 yards against the Wolves.
“The glaring thing is all the penalties and the yards,” noted Hilton. “We have to get that taken care of. Just disappointed in some of the decisions that led to the penalties and we are working on that.”
Despite a Boone offense that didn’t dent the scoreboard last week while Erwin lit its side up for eight touchdowns, seven in the first half, Hilton says the ‘Blazers will be a much improved team and tougher challenge this week.
“They want to run the football,” advised Hilton “They were trying to establish that the whole time. And it’s a Jeremy Jenkins defense, they’ll get lined up right, get to the football and tackle well.”
Hilton knows because of his time under Jenkins
“I learned so much from coach Jenkins when I was coaching under him, I’ll never be able to pay him back for all that he taught me,” Hilton said.
“When Coach (Pat) Fraley was the coach at South, I was at Colonial Heights (Middle School) and I would go sit in the booth with him (Jenkins) and Dickie Jones every night. Every game I would write notes down for him on defense. Just being up there, listening to those guys talk, I was 18-, 19-years old just soaking it all in.”
Sullivan South and Daniel Boone played 39 times in the 41-year history of the Rebels’ program.
The ‘Blazers and the Wolves have split two games after the 2021 game was canceled due to Covid.
“We know each other well,” added Hilton. “Enrollment wise and distance-wise they are closer than any of our region teams are. Both schools have great fan support and great community sport and kids from their area and that’s the way high school football should be.”
