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Cougar football takes baby steps
Attached to Jeff Lloyd's words is a trailing sentiment that softens his tone.
As the football coach of the first-year program at Kettle Run High School, Lloyd's shouts are likely similar to those of other coaches around the state during the first week of practice:
“That’s horrible, horrible, horrible...
“Nope. We were wrong on that [play]...
“Whose fault was that?"
But as he yells, Lloyd has the pleasant thought of these players, mostly sophomores and freshman, returning next year and the year after that.
“Every time I get angry when we do something wrong, I look at these kids and think, 'We’ve got most of them for three years," Lloyd said after Friday evening practice. "That’s exciting for me."
Lloyd’s 2008 varsity roster (he'll also field a freshman team) would embarrass any coach who claims to have a young or inexperienced team. The Cougars are the epitome of that cliche.
Mostly drawing players who attended Fauquier and Liberty high schools as underclassmen last year, Kettle Run has no seniors and only 15 juniors on its football team.
"It's a lot of young kids, but it's going good," Lloyd said. "They’re giving me all the effort they have and they’re picking this stuff up pretty quick, so I’ve been pleased."
They've easily meshed together, too, despite playing for rival teams last season and to their own surprise.
“It’s better than expected," said junior offensive tackle/defensive end Casey Kroll, a Fauquier Falcon last season. "I thought about it [being a problem]."
“Most of us are friends," said sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wicka. "It’s not that hard going from playing backyard football with your best friends to playing Kettle Run football with your best friends."
That's especially good news for Wicka, a Liberty transfer who will rely on sophomore quarterback Richie Gatlin, from Fauquier High, to get him the ball this season...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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