CENTRE – The Sand Rock Wildcats are in search of balance during the 2022 football season.
Two years ago, in head coach Alan Heath’s first season, the Wildcats didn’t win a game on the road. Last year, things were quite the opposite. Sand Rock went 6-0 in the regular season away from Russell Jacoway Stadium, but couldn’t find that kind of consistency at home. They won just one game in front of the home crowd.
“This year we need to win some of both,” Heath said at last weekend’s Cherokee County football media day at Easy Street in Centre. “I’m real excited about the progress we’ve shown. Whether we play somewhere else or we get to play at our place, we’ve just got to work really hard and make sure we’re getting better.”
The Wildcats did get better in 2021. They improved from 3-7 to 7-4, including the team’s first playoff appearance since 2017. As remarkable a turnaround as it was, Heath felt like the Wildcats still underperformed.
“I know people thought we came out of nowhere, but I’ll be honest with you, I thought we underperformed based on what we had last year, and that’s my fault,” Heath said. “We’ve been working real hard to try and fix that. We’re replacing four offensive linemen, an all-state receiver, but these kids are working their butts off. I’m excited to see where we’re at.”
Of course, it helps having nine seniors on the roster in 2022. Heath brought four of them to the Easy Street stage with him last Saturday, including running back/linebacker Trace Haygood, wide receiver/outside linebacker Brian Giles, center/defensive tackle Bradley Jackson, and tight end/linebacker Logan Crider.
“These guys have pretty much played their varsity careers with me, so they know what to expect. They’re not surprised,” Heath said. “They’re all fun to be around, but also they put in the work. They lead by example and they also get on each other. That’s what you really need. I’m really excited about this team.”
Heath was excited about leading the Wildcats even before he became their head coach. After former head Steven Chesnut resigned following the 2019 season, Heath made sure the Wildcats maintained their workout schedule until a new coach was hired. It turned out to be him.
“I didn’t intend on coaching football again,” he said. “But I saw the hard work the kids here at Sand Rock put in and I thought ‘How can I not coach that?’ I was in administration, but when Coach Chesnut resigned, I went in as the interim. Seeing these guys work was like old-school work. They made me want to coach again. I enjoy coaching them. They’re a great group of kids.”
Heath said the team reminds him of his high school days at Hokes Bluff.
“It’s blue collar, and I mean that in the best way. Everybody works hard. You’re talking about hard-working people, good salt-of-the-earth people. It reminds me of Hokes Bluff when I was there 25 years ago. It’s a small community where everyone is involved. It’s a great community.”
Just like last year, the Wildcats will have to be road warriors, at least during the early portion of the 2022 season. They open at Cherokee County rivals Spring Garden (Aug. 19) and Cedar Bluff (Aug. 26) before their first Class 2A, Region 7 home game against Pisgah on Sept. 2.
The Wildcats will then travel to Section on Sept. 9 and Collinsville on Sept. 16 before a home-friendly back end of the schedule. Four of their final five games are at Russell Jacoway Stadium.
“I’m excited about the foundation we’ve built,” Heath said. “We’re getting back to hopefully doing more winning than losing, but once again, that’s not good enough. Good enough would be 15-0 and holding up a blue map. You’ve just got to continue to push yourself and get better.”