HOLLY POND, Ala. – For the first time since 2013, the Holly Pond Broncos will have a new signal caller on the sidelines. Head Coach Chris Moss is entering his first season with the Broncos this fall after spending 10 years coaching the Good Hope Raiders from 2005-2014. He now begins his tenure at Holly Pond and he’s bringing changes to both sides of the ball. The Broncos offense has been built around the legs of former quarterback Kyler Chaney the past few seasons but now that he’s gone and playing for the Huntingdon Hawks, there are some new names stepping up and taking on leadership roles.
“I tried to see if (Chaney) had another year of eligibility left,” Moss joked. “But right now, Levi Boatright and Jayden Perkins, who are seniors for us, have been providing good leadership. We’re excited about those guys and the kids that have come out have really bought in to what we’re doing, and they’ve really worked hard, and we’re excited about playing. I don’t know how the first game is going to look, this is sort of uncharted waters that we’re going through. I’ve done this a long time and haven’t been through anything like this. We’re just excited about getting to play because football’s a great sport.”
Moss has been satisfied with the intensity and focus of his players throughout the summer and fall but admits that it’s been an adjustment for him and his staff working without a spring training period and lower roster numbers than they’re used to.
“The verdicts still out, I guess. We didn’t get to have spring training this year so we’re installing a whole new offense and defense this fall and I wish we had some more kids. I think this COVID stuff has affected us in a bit of a negative way,” Moss said. “I don’t know if the parents don’t want them to play or if its because the kids are still working. We don’t start school until the 20th so that’s going to be a challenge, but I think we’ll probably have about 24 and we’ll take what we’ve got and put them out there.”
Running the option and moving the ball on the ground from the quarterback position has been a staple of the Holly Pond offense for years but Moss wants to spread the ball out between more people in the backfield this fall.
“We’re going to spread things out a little more with more than one back. Chaney had the ability to run and take games over and we’re not putting in our quarterback in that position right now where he’s running the option,” Moss said. “We may throw a little bit of that in there, but it definitely won’t be the veer like they’ve been running here in the past.”
The Broncos’ season has already been shaken up a bit in the final days leading up to the first game. They found out just last week that their opening game with Brindlee Mountain won’t be played and its just the latest obstacle in a preseason defined by adversity.
“In the weight room it’s a different look when you walk in and see kids wearing masks. They don’t have them on when they get outside to run just because it’s too tough to breathe. When they’re on the sidelines watching the game later, they will have to wear a mask and it’s just a whole different look,” Moss said. “I told someone the other day that people are calling this the new normal and I don’t like the new normal,” Moss joked. “I’m ready to have the old normal back where we’re able to walk around and shake hands and everything and I understand that this virus is tough and I know its there but I’m ready for us to get a cure or vaccine or whatever we need. I’m ready to get back to the old way of life.”
Holly Pond is anxious to get back to the postseason after a disappointing 2019 campaign and Moss’ goal for his team in his first season is to improve on the field each week while growing into role models within the community.
“Our first goal is to win the first ball game. We’re going to take things one game at a time and not worry about things down the schedule. When we play our first game our goal is going to be to focus on what we can do to better ourselves as players and even before that starts we want to be great students and be productive role models in the community,” Moss said. “Football-wise, our first goal is to win the first ball game and get better from there. You always look a little ragged in that first game but after that I just want us to get better every week. I feel confident in these young men. They’re working hard and we’re going to get to the point where we can compete each week.”
The Holly Pond Broncos will host Cold Springs Aug. 28 for their first game of the 2020 season.
2020 Holly Pond Football Schedule
8/28: Cold Springs
9/4: @ Oakman*
9/11: J.B. Pennington*
9/18: @ Carbon Hill*
10/2: Tarrant*
10/9: @ Winfield*
10/16: @ Susan Moore*
10/23: Vinemont*
10/30: @ Fairview
2020 Holly Pond Football Roster
#1 Brayden Cason
#2 Austin Marsh
#3 Landon Perkins
#5 Jayden Holloway
#6 Jayden Perkins
#10 Andrew Bell
#11 Charlie Huddleston
#16 Zac White
#21 Lane Tipton
#26 Dawson Simmons
#30 Emery Barnett
#34 Levi Boatright
#42 Gunner Creel
#50 Gavin Phillips
#51 Tyler Suryono
#52 Connor Smith
#53 Patrick Snapp
#55 Brandon Holmes
#60 Jacob Holderfield
#78 Jacob Persall
#81 Christian Couch
#82 Anthony Knopp
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