School’s winding down for the summer. Football’s gearing up for the fall. Spring training starts next week and Habersham’s new head high school football coach Benji Harrison is ready. “I am so excited to get on the field and anxious to get started,” he says.
The key word here is “excited.”
Coach Harrison emphasizes the importance of teaching the Raiders offense and defense but, more importantly, how to approach what they have to do as a team to win. Harrison was successful in turning around the Panthers football program at Jackson County Comprehensive High School in Jefferson. He’s eager to do the same with the Raiders here in Habersham.
What will it take?
Pace and Effort. Those are two words Harrison wants his players to understand. He says if you have a great pace, you’ll have great effort. The coach stresses, “Anything less is not acceptable.”
Last season the HCHS Raiders went 1-9. “We aren’t looking back, we are moving forward and the energy these group of young men are showing is amazing,” he says.
The Raiders can start work on a new record – hopefully, a winning record – in August. Their first scrimmage is August 14th against Harrison’s high school alma mater, Stephens County. Regular season play kicks off August 28th with a non-region match-up against the Rabun County Wildcats at home.
This is a new era for Habersham County Football and Coach Harrison knows it. “I’m just so excited to get out there and get started. We have a talented group of guys and they are all excited as well.”
Excited. A fitting one word description of an invigorated coaching staff, team and community as the Raiders prepare for another season of Friday nights under the lights.
Raider football spring training begins Weds., April 30
