Caledonia football coach Michael Kelly didn’t waste time making an impression on his team’s fan base in his debut 2018 season.
Kelly and the Confederates did what many Caledonia teams have failed to do in years past, defeating archrival New Hope 44-28 on the Trojans’ home field. The victory ended Caledonia’s 13-game losing streak to its inner-county opponent and clinched its first win over the Trojans since 2004.
But that’s all in the past.
Kelly hopes his Confederates have a repeat performance in store when the rivals 17 miles apart open their 2019 season at 7 p.m. on Friday against New Hope on the road.
“I think when our kids have a chance to do something no Caledonia team has done in a long time by beating them two years in a row, they’re motivated by that,” Kelly said. “Of course, you hope that doesn’t come back and bite you in the rear end. Our coaches will get them ready to play.”
Yet, New Hope remembers the sting from that defeat all too well.
“We’re gonna try to right the ship,” second-year New Hope coach Wade Tackett said. “(The loss) gave us good fuel for a long offseason. Last year’s team was so young and inexperienced and we didn’t understand what it takes to win a football game yet.”
In 2018, Caledonia and New Hope waited until Week 5 to clash, but each coach agreed to schedule the rivalry game as the season opener to fuel their team’s respective offseason. Both Caledonia (3-7) and New Hope (1-11) are coming off less than stellar seasons, but one team gets to leave the Trojans’ field undefeated Friday night.
“Our players had a whole offseason to prepare for this game,” Tackett said. “They know what’s at stake here. Not just a rivalry game, but setting the tone for their 2019 football season as well.”
“This game just really starts the year off on the right foot,” Kelly added.
In last season’s win, Confederates quarterback Brandon Edmondson ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Caledonia scored 44 points and ran for 294 yards, yet failed to complete a single pass (only two were attempted). Edmondson is back for the Confederates and will start under center.
Tackett said containing Caledonia’s option-wing attack is unlike most game plans his staff puts together.
“I hadn’t focused on individuals. But schematic wise, you don’t see the option-wing a whole lot and it’s difficult to prepare for,” Tackett said. “Every player has to maintain their gap and their responsibility. We have to be very disciplined.”
New Hope’s offensive scheme will likely center around running back Braylen Miller, who ran for more than 1,200 yards a season ago.
“I know he’s a talented kid and is being highly recruited,” Kelly said. “I know Tackett is probably going to get the ball in his hands and we’re just going to have to do our best to limit him. We hope to not do anything to help him out by missing tackles and we need to get a lot of hats to the ball.”
In interviews, both coaches repeated common Week 1 cliches along the lines of sticking to their respective identities, limiting physical and mental mistakes and so on.
But Friday, the stakes surrounding the start of the prep season will be higher than normal for each squad.
“I think our kids have worked really hard to win this game,” Kelly said. “It’s a big deal to our county and the 17 miles that separate our school.”
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