Team of the Week: New Hanover sitting at 2nd in CCC as they prepare for Laney
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — The fight for 2nd place in the Carolina Coast football standings is winding down with New Hanover in sole possession of it with two games to go.
The Wildcats are 3-1 in league play. Take away their lone loss to Hoggard, and they have managed to score 28 points or more against each conference foe so far.
Head Coach John Fuller and company say winning up front has been key to their success the last month.
“It’s been our offensive line and ability to run the football,” Fuller said. “Everybody wants to be pretty and throw it all over the yard, but at some point, you still got to be able to run the football. To control the clock, to wear down a defense. Us being able to run the football behind our o-line is crucial for us to be successful.”
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“I think it’s a great accomplishment,” senior linebacker Ethan Tatum said. “We’re still improving each week. I hope to go into this week winning this game. Each week, we get better. I think this team’s chemistry is great. I love these boys. They’re my brothers.”
New Hanover visits rival Laney on Friday. The Wildcats have beaten the Bucs all but twice since 2009, but they aren’t looking past them given the stakes.
“It’s a big game,” Tatum said. “We have a few players that transferred here. It’s for sure a big rivalry to them. I think it’s one that we have to win.”
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“Looking at them on film, they’re big, they’re strong,” Fuller said. “They got an athletic quarterback, they’ve got some good skill players. We’re going to have to play well, obviously. I think if we can try to control the line of scrimmage and establish our running game, I think we give ourselves a good chance to win that football game. It’s a rivalry game, all bets are off. They’re going to come ready to play, so we got to match that energy.”
