By TIERA HAYES – Sports Writer
The B team football team finished its 2013 season with a winning record of 4-3 and only one home game.
During practice the coaches engage the team with about “one fourth”, according to Gresham, of what the varsity team is is doing.
“We usually prepare them by just going through the fundamentals (and) the techniques,”Gresham said.
Starting in July, the players were at school at least three days a week practicing for the upcoming season. The coaches used many different techniques to keep the team in shape.
“Over the summer we do conditioning (and) weight lifting just to prepare them for the season,” assistant head B-team coach and defensive coordinator Milton Gresham said.
According to the players, good conditioning can be the key factor in how a season goes for a team. When other teams do not have the proper foundation they are easily overcome.
“You see some teams who aren’t as well conditioned,” right and left tackle sophomore Aaron Manzy said. “Their hands are on their knees. They are cramping,laying down. That’s when you go ahead and put the nail in the coffin.”
The season began against Habersham Central High School on Sept. 5. The team scored 30-0 for the first win of the season. Due to field repairs the game was played at Clarke Middle School.
“When we got there the team was fired up and ready to play and,” freshman wide receiver Justin Barnett said.
On Sept. 12 the team faced the Gainesville High School and after a hard fought game they won 34-20.
“It was the first time we’ve beat (Gainesville) in a B-Team football game (for many years)” Ward said.
The players feel that the team prepared extensively to ensure a win.
“This year we went in with the mentality that we had to beat them,” Manzy said.“We went in and we played a hard fought physical game, and we just came out on top.”
For the third game of the season on Sept. 19 the team played Elbert County High School for the most “exciting” game of the season according to Ward.
“It was a loss, but it was just a fun game,” Ward said. “A lot of big plays on both sides.” The game ended 35-42 but the team fought hard to the very end.
The team constantly struggled to get ahead of their opponent.
The B team football team had a winning season as it prepared players for varsity.
“We got down 28-7,” Ward said. “We fought our way all the way back and actually took the lead. (It was) exciting (because there was) a lot of scoring. (It) went back and forth. We actually had the ball back down at the last play of the game (and we could) have tied it.”
The team played the first Cedar Shoals High School game of the season for their only home game, due to their schedule and field repairs, on Sept. 26.
“It’s a big win anytime you can beat Cedar Shoals,” Ward said
The fifth game was the second loss for the team with an ending score of 13-16 against Stephens County.
“They are solid,” Ward said. “ Sometimes you just don’t match up with people (well). Their style and our style. That’s two years in a row that we’ve lost to them.”
Manzy feels that they did not play to their best ability and it showed during the game.
“If you don’t come to play they will beat you and thats what happened,” Manzy said.
The team played Flowery Branch on October 10 and lost 21-26.
“Flowery Branch is one of those teams (that) are very physical (and) very tough in the region,”Manzy said.
Barnett felt that Flowery Branch was a well-prepared team.
“We were the underdogs in that game,” Barnett said. “Nobody expected us to win.”
For the final game of the season the team once again faced Cedar Shoals. The players and coaches highly anticipated this game.The final score was 18-6.
“It was very big because some of (the players) knew that it was probably the last time they were ever going to play football again or some people knew it was the last time they would play this season,” Manzy said.
The team ended their seven-game season not only with a winning record, but a good foundation for years to come.
“It’s been a good season,” Ward said. “I wish we had won the games we lost. But our team has improved each week, and that’s the main focus of the B team, because our sole goal is to get the players ready to play on a friday with the varsity (at) some point in their career.”
