Ricky Kendrick knew his team was in for a challenge.
Even though the New Hope High School football team lost to Noxubee County and Columbus, Kendrick knew his improved Caledonia Confederates still faced a tall order if they were going to knock off their Lowndes County rival.
Kendrick’s belief in the Trojans proved correct, as New Hope beat Caledonia 28-0 for its fourth straight shutout and its seventh victory in a row in the series.
“They’re good,” Kendrick said. “We ain’t played anybody like New Hope yet. We didn’t have a good off night, but they’re solid up front and gave us a little trouble. I don’t know if it was all New Hope because I think it was some of us, but we’re not quite there and where we want to be. I think our kids will rebound from it.”
Kendrick will get to see just how well the Confederates (3-2) bounce back at 7:30 tonight when they play host to Ackerman. The game will be Caledonia’s final tune-up before it opens Class 4A, Region 4 play next week at Carthage.
“We just want to get back on track,” Kendrick said. “We know this is a long season. We had a great week of practice. The kids have refocused and are doing what we ask them to do.”
Kendrick has maintained throughout his team’s fast start that it still has plenty of work to do. He has remained honest with his players that they need to get bigger, stronger, and faster if they are going to take the next step and be able to compete with teams like New Hope.
Last week, Caledonia only trailed 7-0 at halftime. The deficit was only 14-0 entering the final quarter when Kendrick felt New Hope’s size and depth wore his team down.
Still, he pointed to the improvement from past games, including a 40-0 shutout in 2010 when he said New Hope went to its second- and third-string players much earlier in the game.
“I don’t think our players have any misconceptions about where we are,” Kendrick said. “We understand we played a better team Friday night. That being said, we competed way above what we had done the previous year. Our kids realize it is a work in progress and that it is about taking the next step.”
Kendrick’s cautious optimism hasn’t hesitated from talking about the playoffs. With Noxubee County and Louisville regarded as front-runners in the region, the race for the final two playoff spots could be up for grabs. Kendrick emphasized that the Confederates are more than capable of claiming one of those spots.
“We have told our kids that every goal we set before us before the year is still in front of us,” Kendrick said. “We have to take care of this wee to get ready for those steps (against region opponents). Like I said, playing the New Hopes and the Ackermans and folks like that is going to prepare you for people in Class 4A when that time comes.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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