Friday evening marked the dawn of a new era in Redhawk football (0-1) history as former assistant coach Chip Gregory called his first plays as a head coach in a non-district game against Lebanon Trail (1-0) at Kuykendall Stadium.
While the Redhawks wound up on the losing side of the tropical-themed contest, 28-21, they managed to keep the final score within one possession. In addition, the team’s offense scored significantly more than their average of 9.3 points per game last season, while the defense also allowed far fewer points compared to the previous season’s average of 48.1 points per game.
“Offensively, our execution and play-calling seemed to click, resulting in more points on the board,” Gregory said. “Defensively, our ability to limit LT’s scoring opportunities was a positive takeaway, [but] we had some missed opportunities and breakdowns that ultimately cost us the game. We have to stay more focused and determined throughout the game and be more efficient with our assignments and tackles.”
For senior defensive back Bennet Pilkington, the game’s outcome is not just a loss, but motivation.
“All four years that I have been here, we’ve been doubted, and not many people have believed in us as a team,” Pilkington said. “It kind of gives us a chip on our shoulder, and since this is my last year I’m going to do something with it. I definitely think that we’re going to shock the district this year.”
