HighPoint49er
08-17-03, 09:53 AM
Raiders stress positives in win over Cedar Ridge
By Will Sullivan, High Point Enterprise Staff Sports Writer 08/17/2003
High Point Andrews' 28-7 season-opening victory at Cedar Ridge Friday night wasn't the rout most everyone expected. But it was a win, and officially, that's one more than the Red Raiders tallied all of last year.
"They're probably a little disappointed by their initial performance," said first-year Andrews head coach Derek Anderson. "But it was important for these kids to get out and get a win and have some success early."
Was it ever. All the success the Raiders enjoyed last year - a school-record 13 wins, a second-straight Mid-State 2A Conference championship, a trip to the state semifinals - was stripped away following the countywide attendance investigation. For Anderson, putting those bad memories in the rear-view mirror meant just as much as getting a win Friday.
"Moving past all that was something that was important to me," said Anderson, a longtime assistant from Ragsdale who was tapped to replace former Raider coach Dave Mizell. "School couldn't start soon enough. We really wanted to get their minds off that and get involved in football."
Judging from Friday's underwhelming performance - Cedar Ridge outgained its guests in total yardage and trailed by just a touchdown before the Raiders recorded two late scores - Andrews will be hard-pressed to duplicate last year's pre-forfeit achievements. But Anderson said Friday was a good starting point.
"They know they have some things to build on," he said. "It's about us learning how to be together. We have a coaching staff that's new to them and we're new to one another. We've got offensive and defensive systems that are new to them. As we get a little more comfortable and gain some experience, we can only get better."
The Raiders' run defense needs to get better in a hurry. Andrews allowed workhorse Cedar Ridge tailback Devon Moore to rumble for 183 yards on 39 carries. The Raiders' pass coverage bailed out the defense, intecepting three balls, one which Justin Amos returned 40 yards for a touchdown. Chris Noel and Troy Robinson had the other picks for Andrews.
"We know we need to go to practice, work hard, and be better for Smith," said Robinson, who will help lead the Raiders against Smith in Friday's home opener at Simeon Stadium.
Anderson said he expects much improvement from his team and himself.
"If I had to give myself a grade right now, I'd probably give myself a D or C+," he said. "We're a work in progress."
By Will Sullivan, High Point Enterprise Staff Sports Writer 08/17/2003
High Point Andrews' 28-7 season-opening victory at Cedar Ridge Friday night wasn't the rout most everyone expected. But it was a win, and officially, that's one more than the Red Raiders tallied all of last year.
"They're probably a little disappointed by their initial performance," said first-year Andrews head coach Derek Anderson. "But it was important for these kids to get out and get a win and have some success early."
Was it ever. All the success the Raiders enjoyed last year - a school-record 13 wins, a second-straight Mid-State 2A Conference championship, a trip to the state semifinals - was stripped away following the countywide attendance investigation. For Anderson, putting those bad memories in the rear-view mirror meant just as much as getting a win Friday.
"Moving past all that was something that was important to me," said Anderson, a longtime assistant from Ragsdale who was tapped to replace former Raider coach Dave Mizell. "School couldn't start soon enough. We really wanted to get their minds off that and get involved in football."
Judging from Friday's underwhelming performance - Cedar Ridge outgained its guests in total yardage and trailed by just a touchdown before the Raiders recorded two late scores - Andrews will be hard-pressed to duplicate last year's pre-forfeit achievements. But Anderson said Friday was a good starting point.
"They know they have some things to build on," he said. "It's about us learning how to be together. We have a coaching staff that's new to them and we're new to one another. We've got offensive and defensive systems that are new to them. As we get a little more comfortable and gain some experience, we can only get better."
The Raiders' run defense needs to get better in a hurry. Andrews allowed workhorse Cedar Ridge tailback Devon Moore to rumble for 183 yards on 39 carries. The Raiders' pass coverage bailed out the defense, intecepting three balls, one which Justin Amos returned 40 yards for a touchdown. Chris Noel and Troy Robinson had the other picks for Andrews.
"We know we need to go to practice, work hard, and be better for Smith," said Robinson, who will help lead the Raiders against Smith in Friday's home opener at Simeon Stadium.
Anderson said he expects much improvement from his team and himself.
"If I had to give myself a grade right now, I'd probably give myself a D or C+," he said. "We're a work in progress."