Sometimes it’s best to get back to the fundamentals.
That’s the lesson first-year Kendrick High School football coach Cedric Ware learned after the 2015 season. When the Cherokees posted a 3-7 record (2-6 region) last fall, Ware decided it would be best to go back to the beginning.
“Last year, we were very young and experienced. We were not very good physically, fundamentally and lacked discipline. So this off-season was totally committed to getting strong physically, mentally and fundamentally,” says Ware.
Wiping the slate clean for the upcoming season, Ware brought in new offensive coordinator, Donald Johnson, in time for spring training. Every program in the area lost significant contributors due to graduation but Ware’s program is better off than most since the Cherokees have eight returning offensive starters and seven returning starters on defense. Three of those returning were leaders on last year’s team. Running back Adayus Robertson was the team’s leading scorer and rusher. Cincere Sellers, wide receiver/free safety, led the team in receptions and interceptions. Leading in tackles was Isiah Sellers (LB).
Other returning starters for Kendrick are Stephon Cooper (DT/OL), Dandre Singelton (OL/DT), Michael Jordan (OL), Stephon Williams (RB), Kayleem Bonds (RB/DB), Rickey Owens (DT/FB), Jemarous Holloway (WR/DB), Navy Harris (DB/WR), JQuan Langley (DE/LB), Keevon Peterson (DE/TE), Javier Turner (LB/TE), and Wydell Mcghee (DB/WR).
Cooper, Singleton,C. Sellers, Bonds, Robertson, Holloway, Harris, Turner and I. Sellers are on the Cherokees college prospects list. Many on the Cherokees roster are talented athletes and will make big contributions this season. Jemarous Holloway might be one of those. The wide receiver’s time for the 40 is 4.40.
Getting back to basics means making sure the coaching is fundamentally sound, too. Ware takes a simple approach to offensive strategies. Protect the ball, take what the defense is giving you and be aggressive. For his defense, he wants players to be fundamentally sound, swarm to the football, strike first and create turnovers.
Look for a newer, improved version of Kendrick football this fall. Ware has worked with the team to be more disciplined and committed. This season he expects his players to value the little things that make good teams great and apply those principals to their lives. He also has expectations for his veteran players to lead the way.
The goals for his second year as head coach are to win the region, make the playoffs and win championship. Ware is essentially building a football program at Kendrick which will raise the standard so that his goals are team goals, too. On a daily basis, the head coach is giving the team a chance to “buy in” to the possibilities of being successful.
“We must take pride in our football program and in our school. We have updated our locker room with fresh coats of paint all done by our players. They have taken ownership in it and have a place that they are proud of. We have updated our weight room and more,” says Ware.
Ware has a taste of the different levels of the game of football. He played at Hardaway High School, was a collegiate athlete and even spent time with the Columbus Lions. Every coach hopes to have athletes who move beyond high school play. Ware knows for many that won’t be the case so he works to prepare his players fundamentally off the field.
“A winning season is when your player’s lives change for the better because there are part of your program,” he says.
Kendrick Cherokees
Cherokees Work On Fundamentals For 2016 Success
Written by Beth Welch
Photo by George McDuffie
