The 2010 football season has become uncharted territory to some degree for first-year Winder-Barrow High School head coach David Wagner.
Having been involved in postseason football for the past several seasons and throughout his coaching career, an 0-5 start for the Bulldoggs is something Wagner is having to contend with it. Yet, the WBHS head coach is not backing down from the challenge of making his current program a winner.
“We will continue to fight on,” said Wagner, whose team faces Heritage on the road this Friday. “You don’t quit in life and you don’t quit in football. It’s also uncharted territory for many of our assistants, who have been involved with winning programs. It makes us all even more determined to make Winder-Barrow a winner.”
Heritage is 4-2, defeating Cedar Shoals 13-6 last Friday to keep its playoff hopes alive.
“Heritage is extremely athletic and similar on offense to Habersham Central,” Wagner said. “They have athletes all over the field and they play solid defense. This is another tough one for us but there are no easy games on our schedule. We are trying to continue going in the right direction. We are a little snake-bit right now.”
The WBHS coach pointed out that in two of his team’s games this season, the Bulldoggs have outgained their opponent by 100 yards.
“We just seem to find ways not to score at times,” Wagner said. “We just have to keep working to get better. The only thing I know to do is to go back to work. It’s like with anything in life. You can dwell on the negative but that gets you nowhere. We will continue to fight on. I know these players will not give in at this point.”
Defensively, Heritage runs a 3-5 scheme.
“Hopefully, we will be able to do some things,” Wagner said. “We hope to have everyone healthy and ready to go.”
Even with school out for fall break, Wagner said practice will continue at its normal time this week.
“Our original plan was to go in the mornings, but many of our players are involved with some course work,” Wagner said.
