H.S. FOOTBALL: Scotts Hill keeping its goals simple

REAGAN – Michael Stroup’s building of the Scotts Hill High School football program continues this season, and the head coach said he’s encouraged by what his players have learned in the 18 months since he became the head coach.

“A year later, they know me better, and I know them better,” Stroup said. “They know what I expect out of them in spring ball, summer workouts, fall camp, practice during the season, during the games … everything.

“I know a lot more about them than I did even this time last year.”

Stroup said that mutual knowledge is a good thing as both parties want to see the Lions become a more competitive football team within District 15-A.

“I and the assistant coaches know what the team needs to be successful, and the guys know how high we’ve set the bar and to try to go beyond what we ask of them,” Stroup said. “As long as they do that, there’s nothing for me to complain about as far as this football program goes.”

Stroup said he would like to see a little more passion out of his team as the season progresses than what he saw in his first year as the coach.

“There were times last year that I expected them to fight back that they didn’t to be honest about it,” Stroup said. “I think when a football team learns that bad things are going to happen in a game and in a season and you’ve got to be prepared for that inevitability, then that will help a team respond better and ultimately be a better team.”

The Lions have a tall mountain to climb just to compete within the district as the top two teams in the district met in the state semifinals last year.

“We want to compete with the Adamsvilles and Trinity Christians of the world, but that’s not our focus right now,” Stroup said. “Just getting on the field and doing what we do as good as we can do it – that’s what we need to be focused on.”

Brandon Shields, 425-9751

Scotts Hill Lions

• 2013 record: 2-8

• Stroup said the main goal for his team right now as far as on-the-field production goes continues to be win three games, and it will be that until they do it.

• One thing Stroup said will help Scotts Hill football in the long run is how the program continues to build depth with more and more players coming out for spring each year.