It was a football / volleyball double-header night with Charleston hosting Hackett for both sports’ preseason AAA benefit games with the Hornets. The football Tigers played an abbreviated scrimmage game with the Hornets that lasted just two quarters. As both coaching staffs focused on preparation for the start of next week’s season, both were interested in getting in some final work while preventing injuries before the start of the season. Hackett will open the 2019 season at Mansfield on Thursday, August 29. The Charleston Tigers will open the season versus the Melbourne Bearkatz on Friday, August 30. The game will be played on a neutral site at Hendrix College in Conway.
Coach May was pleased overall with the way his Tigers played. “I thought we played well at times. Just had a few mental breakdowns that we have to fix. Obviously, when we get that fixed we will be ok. I felt like we played fast. I feel like the kids got after it pretty good on offense and defense. We just have to get better.”
As the summer workouts conclude, Coach May admitted that it felt good for his players to get to play someone else. “I think that was the biggest thing. They saw a different colored jersey and they got a little bit more excited about it, a little more enthused. And now we are in game prep mode.”
With the start of the regular season now just a little more than one week away, the Charleston coaching staff turns their attention to the firs week opponent, Melbourne. “Now we can kind of get into a routine, so we are excited about that part.”
Several Tigers impressed the coaches with their performances last evening. “Breckon Ketter looked really good running the football. Jeff Scott and Kaden Benge played really well on defense. Offensively, Brayden Ross made some good reads, made one bad one, but that’s why we have a scrimmage. He came back the next series and connected and did well.”
With approximately ten days before the start of the season, Coach May indicated that he is going to get some rest in for his Tigers before game preparations begin. “We’re going to rest a little bit tomorrow, do a little running, and then come back Thursday and really get after it again.”
So, Tigers fans, the start of the new season is just around the corner. Football is back!
