This year for the North Augusta Yellow Jackets was one to remember – with the new football coach, pandemic complications, the winning season, and so much more. The North Augusta football team made it to the second round of playoffs, where the students played with great strength and promise for future years to come. However, what changed this year in comparison to the past?
Under the new leadership of Coach Bryant, the football team has encountered many new changes to benefit the program. One of the largest changes this school year was adding two class periods to each players’ school schedule. Each player attends classes during sixth and seventh period to be in the best physical shape possible to play football. Junior Austin Harrell says that, “adding two classes helps us a lot because we got more time to work out and do what we need to do.” Junior Jack Greenway agrees, as he says, “it impacted us in a positive way by allowing us to lift and watch film during school so we could get out at a reasonable time.”
Most athletes at North Augusta High School take weightlifting or a gym class dedicated to their sport to prepare for games. Usually, the class period consists of drills, lifting weights, and building endurance. However, football has so many things to go over and to practice, yet so little time to do it. Hence, the creation of multiple class periods dedicated to football. Greenway states, “During sixth period we lift and seventh we either watch or practice film or review film from the game.” Football is a consistently changing game with plays always being added, and corrections always being made. Thus, the extra practice is immensely beneficial for the players and clearly creates a positive outcome for the season. However, every good thing must come to an end - including a stellar football season. This poses the question as to what happens to players’ schedules after the conclusion of football. Harrell says, “After the season we will still continue to lift and run and get ready for next year.”
With all this extra time together, does it make the team closer? Harrell states that the answer to this question is yes, “it does make the team a lot stronger being able to see each other every day.” North Augusta High School prides itself on the family-like bonds that it creates and memories that last for a lifetime. Greenway comments, “I think it made us get closer together since we all had to do the same thing and we always tried to better each other.” Having a team that is well-bonded and more like a family is a recipe for success. The extra class periods have not only created a well-prepared team, but have also formed a family.
The North Augusta High School football team has created great pride for the community this season as they finished high within their division. This is due to the always improving athletic department and incredible support from the school, boosters, coaches and family. Go Jackets!!
The smoke machines fill the field before the players emerge at the football game.
Photo Credit: Katie Beth Cannon
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