York Banged Up As Jackson Co. Approaches Friday

The York Institute Dragons have continued their preparations in advance of their week one match-up with Jackson County to open the 2019 season.

While his players aren’t at 100 percent, Head Coach Derwin Wright says his kids are ready to get the season started and they are stoked to hit someone that isn’t their own teammate.

“You’ve got to expect your kids to be excited (to get the season started),” Wright said. “It’s finally game one and that is when it all starts … as an old coach said to me one time, you can’t win them all if you don’t win the first one.”

So far, Wright says his two groups of lineman have impressed him in their battles in the trenches. That physicality, along with his depth in the backfield, will be instrumental if their team is going to have a good year, according to Wright.

“The d-line is doing really well, and I’ve got big hopes for the offensive line to be a strong bunch this year,” Wright said. “We’ve got some speed in the backfield. Unfortunately, we’ve got some (injuries) so we don’t have the depth that we should have, but hopefully we can get them back soon.”

According to Wright, his players have battled nagging injuries throughout the preseason, but his leaders have stepped up to be a voice in the locker room when they’ve needed it.

“Edward Stockton and Zach Strong, both of those guys have stepped up pretty good,” Wright said. “They’re really giving a lot of effort, and they realize it’s their senior year. Both of them have been playing and starting since they were sophomores, so they have that experience.”

The Dragons will battle the Jackson County Blue Devils on Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 P.M.