Friday’s County Line Clash pits the Vance County Vipers against the Warren County Eagles in the opening game of the fall football season.
Last season’s matchup was a close game, said Doc Ayscue, with the Vipers clinching it in the fourth quarter for the 18-0 victory over the Eagles.
And he and Scout Hughes are looking for another good game Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Viper Stadium.
“It’s going to be an interesting game this year,” Ayscue said. The two schools are in different conferences following a reorganization last year – Vance County High School is 6A and Warren County is 2A, but
that doesn’t seem to bother Eagles Head Coach Victor Hunt.
Beginning his seventh year as head coach, Hunt said the off-season has been pretty good and he’s looking forward to going head-to-head with non-conference teams like the Vipers.
“We accept all the challenges,” Hunt said. “We want to win a state championship,” he said. “You do that by playing playoff caliber teams.”
If that results in some non-conference losses, so be it. Hunt sees them as learning experiences for his team, which, although young with a small group of seniors, has seen a good deal of playing time.
The Eagles participated in the recent Louisburg Jamboree, and Hunt said he saw a lot of good things on the field and some things to work on.
Friday’s game is going to be physical, he said. “That’s what we want…just being tough – that’s our brand of football.”
Penalties hurt them last season against the Vipers, he said, so limiting penalties and turnovers Friday will be key, he pointed out.
“The practice is always exciting Week 1,” he said, noting that there’s a little added pressure – especially for the seniors.
“It is a rivalry game, but it’s not going to determine any championships,” Hunt said. And his players are up for the challenge.
They’re rising to the occasion in guiding the underclassmen with their leadership and holding each other accountable for plays on the field.
holding each other accountable.
For Hunt, coaching is a blessing. “I think I have the greatest job in America. I love our kids. I love our community. It’s so much bigger than football…it’s about the family we’ve built here.”
Former players are returning to talk to this year’s team, working with them and offering encouragement.
“It means everything,” Hunt said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
CLICK PLAY!
