Every year is a fresh start and new beginning for football and that normally breeds plenty of excitement and optimism. For head coach Bryan Way and the Warner Robins Demons, that is to say the least. After two consecutive 9-win seasons, the Demons are pumped up for a run at the program’s first state title since 2004. With seven returning starters on offense and four on defense, Way believes the team has a solid nucleus of talent to contend with the top teams in 2013.
“We feel like we have a pretty good group of returning players coming back that played a lot of good football for us last year and mixed with some really talented younger kids coming up from our ninth grade and JV teams from last year,” said Way. “So we’re excited about the possibilities.”
The Demons are stacked in the backfield without question, possessing three impressive running backs that accumulated over 2,500 rushing yards in 2012. Danny Hite Jr. led the three in rushing yards by toting the rock for 1,141 yards on only 180 carries. Hite and company will be heavily relied on as the Demons will still be running the Shotgun-Wing T formation; a system in which the ball is being ran about 80-85 percent of the time.
Jermaine Abron, a behemoth to say the least, will be paving the way for Hite and any other ball carriers as an offensive guard for Warner Robins. Standing at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, Abron is a man amongst boys who has been shown strong interest by a multitude of SEC schools for his versatility on both sides of the line of scrimmage, a trait that speaks volumes in the down and dirty SEC.
On the defensive side of the ball the Demons are deep at the linebacker position. Linebackers Jarrod Crum, Jacob Jamerson, Collins Jones and Finley Woods will play a prevalent role in the Demons’ 3-5 defense this fall. These four players played in considerable roles in 2012 and look to be even more of a boost on defense for the upcoming season.
Whether the 2013 schedule is a cake walk or not, Way and the Demons possess the mindset of treating each game the same.
“Well, we’re going to have to show up and play hard and play well in all of them,” said Way. “We’re not good enough anywhere to just show up and win, we’ve got to be ready to play in each and every week.”
On Nov. 1, the Demons will be hosting the No. 2 Northside-WR Eagles. This is a game for bragging rights that will draw large crowds, considering both schools are separated by only three miles.
By this game, Way and his team will have a good idea about where they are in terms of being ready for the playoffs and contending for the school’s fifth state title in school history.
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