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The CCA football team is enjoying a big summer – with hopes that the momentum the team builds now will carry over into the season.
The Lions have had a big summer getting bigger, faster and stronger as the team prepares for Year 2 under Coach Jesse Turner.
The Lions were 3-7 last season under Turner, but they were far more competitive than that record would indicate, losing 4 games by 10 points or less.
The team got into the playoffs as the No. 20 seed, dominating No. 13 Delta Charter 35-6 in the opening round, then also playing close to No. 4 St. Martin’s in Round 2 before falling 40-27.
Turner said he loves the pieces he has coming back, and he thinks the mentality of the team has been great throughout the offseason. Turner said his CCA team is hungry, and they’re ready to enjoy a big season. The Lions recently took 2nd place in their division at the LSU 7-on-7 tournament, playing quality ball throughout the weekend to continue to build confidence.
“The guys are working hard and they’re believing in what we’re doing,” he said. “We have a lot of key pieces coming back and we’re adding some guys to our roster that had to sit out the last year, as many people know. So we’re hungry. We’re excited about what we have, but the kids have a little bit of a sour taste in their mouths. We didn’t like being 3-7. We didn’t like losing those close games. We didn’t like losing that second-round game to St. Martin’s. We thought we had chances to do better than we did. So this year, we’re working to refine some of those little things that we can do better to make us a better football team.”
Turner said he loves his skill pieces, adding that he thinks the Lions have backs and receivers that can stack up with anyone in the area at any classification.
He said he also likes his team in the trenches with offensive and defensive linemen who are returning – position groups that are going to be vital to the team’s successes.
The Lions lost their quarterback from last season with the graduation of Tristan Rogers, but Turner said the options the team have to replace Rogers are all good ones, and the team is confident that it will have a playmaker making plays at the position.
Turner said Year 2 at CCA has been a lot easier than Year 1, because he knows his players, his players know him and everyone has a clear understanding of what is expected of them.
“Now, we’re just ready to get to work and build on it and go even farther and do even better,” he said.