Pigskin Preview: Jake Fonvielle returns to lead South Columbus Stallions Football

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. — South Columbus football is coming off a 7-5 season. The Stallions finished 4-1 in conference play and shared the league title. Now, South Columbus is handing the whistle to someone who already knows the program inside and out.

South Columbus held picture day before heading to the Bash at the Beach. The event gave the Stallions one more chance to see how they stack up before the season begins. Jake Fonvielle is back as head coach. He returns to the school where he played and coached. He also previously led the Stallions to back-to-back Eastern Finals appearances.

“I graduated here from South Columbus High School in 1997,” Fonvielle said. “I came back, started as an assistant coach here under Julie Price in 2001. I worked as his assistant until 2009, took over the program in ’09 through the 2013 season.”

Fonvielle said his previous years with the program taught him valuable lessons and helped prepare him for another opportunity to lead South Columbus.

“You learn a lot going through those processes, the wins and the losses,” Fonvielle said. “So I feel like it’s prepared me even more for this situation that we’re in now.”

The Stallions expect some growing pains as younger players adjust. Fonvielle, though, believes his guys will be ready.

“We’re going to have some growing pains through the process,” Fonvielle said. “But when those lights come on, we expect them to do what they do.”

South Columbus has 10 seniors leading the way this season. That group brings experience and plenty of confidence. Senior quarterback Jaxon Grene also has a personal connection to Fonvielle.

“Whenever he first coached here, that’s whenever my father first coached here too,” Grene said. “I’m really familiar with him and how he runs his program and how he does his football teams.”

Grene is excited about the Stallions’ potential on offense.

“It’s definitely different from last year, but I still feel like we’re going to be a team that runs through defenses and we can get the ball down the field and score,” Grene said.

Junior running back Phillip Smith has also worked with Fonvielle before.

“I had him for a long time, my middle school years,” Smith said. “He’s back with me. I love my coach to death. I love the last one, but he’s bringing the energy, so we love him.”

That energy is something Fonvielle wants to see from his team all season.

He wants the Stallions to play fast, work hard and finish every game. Most importantly, he wants them to stay locked in no matter the score.

“I think they’re going to see just a hard-working group that really runs around, gives 100 percent all the time, finishes games, never gets down no matter what the score is,” Fonvielle said.

South Columbus enters the season looking to build on last year’s conference championship. With Fonvielle back on the sideline, the Stallions believe they have the leadership and experience to make another run.

The South Columbus Stallions will host the Swansboro Pirates on Friday night to open the season.