The Clarke Central High School junior varsity football team practices on the CCHS practice field on Sept. 14. Even though the team has posted a 1-4 record, head JV football coach Stefan Smith is pleased with their progress. “We have a good group of young men. Those kids, they work hard every day. They’re getting there,” Stefan Smith said. “I feel good about them. They’re learning, that’s the important part right now.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
On Sept. 30 the CCHS junior varsity football team will go into their final game of the season against Apalachee High School school, their last chance to improve their 1-4 record.
After working all season to prepare players for varsity football, the Clarke Central High School junior varsity football team has a 1-4 record going into their final game on Sept. 30 against Apalachee High School.
According to head JV football coach Stefan Smith, although the games the team plays are important, the CCHS JV football coaching staff’s primary goal is to ready players for the varsity football team.
“My goal every year is to get kids prepared to play varsity football,” Stefan Smith said. “Of course I want to win, of course they want to win, and that’s what we go out to do, but, really, JV is about teaching.”
CCHS defensive end Nicholas Smith, a freshman, believes that his football skills have developed over his time on the team, but hopes to improve at teamwork before the final game.
“As a team, I think we need to work on better teamwork and talking with each other, (and) not getting frustrated,” Nicholas Smith said. “My goal is to go out there and do my best, and make sure I do good as a teammate and as myself too.”
“My goal is to go out there and do my best, and make sure I do good as a teammate and as myself too”
— Nicholas Smith,
CCHS defensive end and freshman
To show support for the team and the progress they have made, Stefan Smith encourages the CCHS community to attend the last game of the season
“I’d like to see people come out and support the young men as they play. I think that’s big for the school. That’s what we used to have at Clarke Central. When I went here it was a family atmosphere,” Stefan Smith said. “Everyone came out, and I think that’s what led us to a state championship. It wasn’t necessarily all about the coaching or all about the players, it was about the community and the school (and) the teachers.”
