Pigskin Preview: Pender Patriots build around experience after deep playoff run
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) –Pender football did not waste much time making noise last season. The Patriots opened the year with eight straight wins, finished with 10 victories and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs.
“Last year was a lot of fun, it really was. We had a group of kids that we didn’t know coming into the season what it was gonna be like. To go 8-0 before we lost the first game, they just followed through so much adversity, and it was just fun to be around every day,” Pender head coach Tom Eanes said.
Much of that success came from Pender’s ability to establish its running game.
The Patriots return experience in the backfield, including senior quarterback Austin Deal. The bigger question entering the new season is the group in front of them.
“This year we’re very young on offensive line, so it’s sort of reversed. I got a good group of backs that are very experienced and they know what they’re doing. It’s just taking us a longer time to get the offensive line to know what it’s doing ’cause we had to replace four pieces of that and that’s a lot out of the five,” Eanes said.
With four new starters on the offensive line, Pender is rebuilding much of the unit that helped set the tone last season.
Deal knows how important that group was to the Patriots’ success.
“Well, we had great success last year. I mean, we had a great team, great O-line last year, a bunch of leaders on the O-line. Had a great defense. We had great leadership, great discipline, and if you have all of that, it leads to success,” Deal said.
Now, Deal is looking to take on an even larger leadership role.
He returns with a full season of experience under his belt, and Eanes believes the senior quarterback is capable of taking another step forward.
“Being a senior, that should help him out a lot. He’s very explosive and his passing has improved a little bit, so I think he’s due for a good year if he’ll concentrate and just let the game happen instead of trying to make the game happen,” Eanes said.
Deal said his focus is on doing his part and helping lead the team.
“I’m working on my leadership, do what’s best for the team. I just do my job and everybody else feeds off of that,” Deal said.
Last season gave the Patriots a taste of a deep playoff run. This year, they are setting their sights even higher.
“We’re not settled with that ’cause, I mean, job wasn’t finished last year. The big picture’s the ring, so we’re gonna go get it,” Deal said.
