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Two years after moving up from 3A to 4A, Montgomery Academy’s football team has made the playoffs in both seasons. However, the Eagles suffered two consecutive first-round losses and now look to move forward with a young team that features just five seniors and eight juniors.
“There are 13 third- and fourth-year guys. Sometimes we carpool somewhere because not enough of us can drive, so it’s fun,” said Ethan McBride, head coach of the Montgomery Academy football team. “But when you have older guys who are always leading the way with the way they practice, it’s just contagious, right? Younger guys look and think, ‘Oh, that’s just how I do it.'”
McBride thanked seniors Graham Martin and Derrick Vinson for taking on leadership roles throughout the program.
Martin said he has seen leaders of all ages.
“It’s not like other teams where it’s just the seniors leading,” noted Martin, a veteran offensive and defensive player. “We have a great class of juniors. We have sophomores stepping up and leading, and I’ve seen freshmen go out there and lead.”
The Eagles are entering their second year of spread offense and are hoping for success. And to prove the doubters wrong.
“Some people think we’ve kind of slacked off,” Derrick Vinson, a wide receiver and safety, said of the Eagles’ performance since moving up to 4A. “The last two years haven’t been the best, but we’re still that team. We’re Montgomery Academy and we’re going to be that team this year.”
