CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Playoff football is back in Tennessee, and four local teams will be in action this Friday night. Three of the four teams have first year coaches. One of those teams is the Northeast Eagles. After making the post-season in 2015, the Eagles were eliminated last season by the Rossview Hawks during the last game of the season.
That was then, and this is now. First year head coach Chad Watson has his Eagles sitting at 7-3 and a home playoff game to start off the post season. The Eagles high powered offense led by junior QB Heath Williams along with explosive players like Quinton Cross, Gus Antione, Tyrique Freeman, and Chris Taylor, have managed to put up 326 points
“Offensively I think one of our strengths has been that we have been balanced, and I think we have done a good job of avoiding negative plays and putting ourselves in obvious passing situations. Also, we have a wide variety of guys making plays. I feel like you truly can’t key on one of our guys. Gus, Quinton, Chris, Tyrique, and Heath are all weapons that people have to respect this season.” said head coach Chad Watson.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles have been rather stingy allowing only 232 points through ten games.
“Defensively we have had some players really step their game up. Devon Dillehay has been our leader on Defense all season. He gets us lined up and always seems to make a big play when we need one. I think Jailyn Ferguson is probably our most versatile guy in defense we have moved him around and he has played his best football these past week. Jimmy Wendel and Rakeem Savusa have been the anchor of our defensive line all year and they continue to do a good job.” said Watson.
Northeast has gotten a boost from their kicking game with Zach Thomas coming on over the course of the year. The Eagles will need some great plays from all three phases of the game as they host 7-3 Southwind from Memphis.
“Southwind is a really good football team. No doubt they have the best defensive line we have seen this season. Jordan Davis is a 4 Star commit to the University of Alabama and the defensive tackle next to him is a 4 Star as well with multiple SEC offers. We will have to play well up front and we have been talking to our offensive line about the opportunity they have this week.” said Watson. “Offensively they are averaging 35 points a game and they are extremely explosive. They do a good job of mixing things up. We really want to do job of preventing big plays, and we want to force them to snap the ball again.”
Watson is confident his team is up for the challenge on the big stage this week. “I like our chances. We had a great practice on Monday, and I think our kids want to have a statement win this season. We have played a tough non-conference schedule this season, and I think that’s going to pay off for us in the playoffs.” said Watson.
Watson credits the success of the Eagles on one mission statement that has been emphasized all season. “The number one job of the players is to love each other and the number one job of the coaches is to love the kids. “We want to win games because we are willing to play harder for each other more so than anyone else,” Watson said.