PCA light on numbers; Montgomery coaching CHA|[8/2/06]
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Porters Chapel Academy embarked on the most challenging football season in school history Tuesday, a little light on depth but still high on its hopes for a successful campaign.
Twenty-two players attended the team’s morning practice, the first of two on the day. While that was better than a lot of years at the small private school, it was still less than what head coach Randy Wright had hoped for.
“We’re hoping to get it to 30, but 25 or 30 isn’t bad,” said Wright, who is entering his third season as PCA’s head coach. “Honestly, we thought we might have 34 or 35.”
PCA’s depth took a hit in the offseason when eight players from last year’s squad decided not to return to the team this fall. Included in the eight are injured center Brian Holloway (knee) and backup quarterback Matt Cranfield (arm).
Add to the list seven graduated seniors, including the Eagles’ top two running backs in 2005 and an elevation to Class AA ball, and it’s clear Wright has his hands full trying to put together a starting lineup on both sides of the ball.
“We have a few holes to fill. We have the whole defensive backfield back, so that’s good,” Wright said. “We definitely have our work cut out for us. We have a tough schedule and a lot of work to do before the season starts.”
The Eagles did about two hours of conditioning drills on Tuesday morning, then returned in the evening for another two hours of running. They also worked on passing plays and line drills.
“It was all right,” said senior Spencer Pell, one of several players vying for the starting running back spot. “You could tell who got out there and ran during the summer and who was in the house in the air conditioning all day.”
In addition to the conditioning drills, Wright hopes to install part of his base offense this week. The Eagles wrap up two-a-days on Friday, and will focus more on Xs and Os once they get into full pads on Monday – just in time to prepare for their first test as a Class AA school in the Mississippi Private School Association.
PCA will scrimmage University Christian on Aug. 11 and play in a jamboree at Manchester Academy on Aug. 17. The season, PCA’s first in Class AA after 32 years in Class A, begins Aug. 25 at Heidelberg.
Montgomery leads Central Hinds Academy.
RAYMOND – Central Hinds Academy has a new head football coach. Vicksburg native Todd Montgomery was elevated to the position after former coach Kenny Granberry left to join the program at Raymond High School.
Montgomery welcomed 20 players to the start of the Cougars’ fall drills Monday.
Granberry’s exit was somewhat surprising. He had spent six seasons at Central Hinds and led them to the playoffs for the last two seasons, including an 8-4 record in 2004. The Cougars were 5-5 last year and lost in the first round of the MPSA Academy AA playoffs.
Vince Granberry, who comes over from Terry, replaces Bill Fleming who resigned in Feburary. The Rangers have not won a game on the field in two years.
Montgomery, who has been the Cougars’ offensive line coach the past two years, steps up.
He was the Cougars’ head baseball coach last spring.