Darlington building senior strength
The football team is hoping experience will bring them success.
Roles are being solidified for the Darlington Tigers as the football team looks to define itself through spring drills knowing its potential will emerge in the fall through hard work and discipline.
“It is springtime, so we are doing some good things, we are doing some not-so-good things,” Darlington coach Tommy Atha said. “I’ve been pleased with the effort and I’ve been pleased with the enthusiasm. Our kids really want to be out here this spring.”
The Tigers culminate their spring practices on Friday by hosting a scrimmage against Model at 7 p.m.
Darlington is coming off an 8-4 season which ended in a 13-12 second round loss to Landmark Christian in the Class A Private state playoffs.
But while the loss brought an end to the senior seasons of several Tigers, the team is far from depleted, with vital contributors like running back Tijai Whatley and defensive linemen Elijah Ball and Jacob Hunt all coming back.
Hunt and Ball combined for 28 tackles for loss last season, while Whatley recorded 1,213 yards on the ground and 20 touchdowns.
All three players are seniors and, like their classmates who are back on the field for the Tigers, they have taken a bit more leadership this spring.
According to Atha, it is just part of being at Darlington to have the seniors serve as leaders. Even players like Tigger Frix and Mitch Crego, who have not been starters in the past, have still risen up as great role models during practice.
“We need these guys who are ready to work whenever they come out to practice,” Atha said. “They come out and set an example with their work ethic, and the younger guys can see that and then try to reach that level.”
The Tigers also lost quarterback Cameron Evans last season, and the team currently have four sophomores battling for the job in a tight race. Atha said for now the best thing each player can do is learn from the upperclassmen.
While Friday’s outing is set up as a scrimmage, Atha hopes his team merely gets better from facing some fresh competition.