A young team led by a first-year head coach equaled a 4-6 record for Cairo in 2015, but a year of experience should see the team make drastic improvements during Steven DeVoursney’s second year at the helm of the Syrupmakers.
The team will begin the season with a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator, but the adjustment should be relatively smooth given Cairo’s wealth of returning talent. The Syrupmakers will return a whopping 14 starters, including eight on defense, in what has to potential to be a season during which DeVoursney’s team makes a deep run in the state playoffs.
Cohesion and improvement during the offseason will be especially important for Cairo, who will face Thomasville, Thomas County Central and Bainbridge in consecutive games to begin 2016, a stretch that has the potential to be the team’s toughest three-game run of the year.
Quarterback John Michael Owens headlines the Syrupmakers’ list of returning starters, but three returning defensive backs, two returning linebackers and two returning defensive ends will ensure that Cairo has one of the toughest defenses in its region.
Steven DeVoursney’s team should see the college scholarship offers start to pile up in the near future, as the Syrupmakers undoubtedly possess the ability to post upwards of 10 wins in 2016.
The biggest improvement that a team sees under a new head coach often occurs between years one and two, and that is exactly what Cairo is expecting this season. The team will need to find depth and continuity on the offensive line in order to be successful, but the ‘Makers have experience at nearly every other position.
Cairo should be competitive in every game it plays in 2016.
Cairo Syrupmakers
DeVoursney’s Veteran ‘Makers Eye Deep Playoff Run
Written by Jacob Dennis
Photo by Hubby Brooks
