Excitement: That is the word coming from W.S. Neal Eagle head football coach Doug Hoehn as the attitude from his team and program right now as the 2014 Eagles just completed their spring training period.
“The kids are just excited about next year,” Hoehn said. “It was relatively nice to see us stay healthy in the spring after last year. The kids are working hard and they are excited about that first game in Jacksonville. They are also excited about the new school. So I think right now there is a lot of excitement in our athletic programs.”
Hoehn said overall for the spring training time for his team, he thought it went pretty well.
“We were fortunate with the weather and we were able to get in 10 practices,” he said. “We had 53 kids participating. As far as installing the offense and defense, I think we did a better job this year than in the previous three springs that I have been here. The coaching staff was also pleased with the kids.”
On Saturday, W.S. Neal held an intersquad game at 10 a.m. at the school’s football field.
Hoehn said as far as the game, he thought the defense played well.
“They played extremely well,” Hoehn said. “On offense, I thought we threw the ball better than we have since I have been here. That was improving to see. Overall as a staff, we thought the kids really gave a strong effort this spring and we think it is getting better and better every year.”
As far as individual bright spots for the 2014 team, Hoehn named a few players he thought had a great spring and game.
“I think DJ Hodges had a very good spring playing the offensive and defensive line,” Hoehn said. “I think Lane Chavers and Malcolm Hawthorne improved vastly at the quarterback position. Trey Taylor, we have him playing quarterback now also, and we were very pleased with his progress.”
Now that spring is over for his team, Hoehn said summer workouts will begin next week.
“They are off this week because of exams,” Hoehn said. “We want them concentrating on their academics and finishing off the school year. The following Monday we will start summer workouts. We will go at 7:30 in the morning on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays. We will have 25 of those before we start two-a-days.”
W.S. Neal went 5-5 in last year’s injury-plagued season. W.S Neal went 3-4 in region play and finished fifth in the region and failed to make the playoffs. The Eagles of East Brewton had 10 seniors on last year’s team.
Here is W.S. Neal’s schedule for 2014:
• Aug. 22, Bishop Snyder High School, Away (Jacksonville, Florida)
• Aug. 29, Escambia County, Home
• Sept. 5, *Clarke County, Away
• Sept. 12, OPEN
• Sept. 19, *UMS-Wright, Home
• Sept. 26, Calhoun, Homecoming
• Oct. 3, *Monroe County, Away
• Oct. 10, *Thomasville, Home
• Oct. 17, Satsuma, Away
• Oct. 24, *Southside-Selma, Home
• Oct. 31, T.R. Miller, Away
*Region
*** All games start at 7 p.m.