A season that showcased the character of New Kent football
NEW KENT, Va. — High school coaches all across the country tried to manage a spring football season in 2021. This would be tough for any coach, let alone a first-year head coach.
This was the case for John McCauley of New Kent High School.
McCauley, who has been a part of the program for half a decade, would have to roll with the punches in as strange of a year as it gets.
The Trojans did fairly well, securing a 4-3 record. But the toughest part about the spring season would be a quick turnaround to get ready for another season in the fall.
“Very challenging,” McCauley told Sean Robertson of CBS 6 Richmond. “The challenge with that is getting in the weight room, getting kids healthy from the previous couple of months before we ended the season. It really takes a toll.”
With the way New Kent started the fall, you would have no idea they were playing on a shortened offseason.
The Trojans began the year 2-0 winning a couple of exciting games, none more exciting than the season opener against Colonial Heights.
A quarterback sneak at the goal line secured the win for New Kent just outside of the two minute mark. The Trojan defense held on to give them a 16-12 victory.
Touchdown New Kent with 2:38 left. Trojans now lead Colonial Heights 14-12. pic.twitter.com/7lgOiqQRom
— Jordan Bondurant (@J__Bondurant) September 4, 2021
Unfortunately for the Trojans, the season would take a turn.
After the 2-0 start, New Kent would then lose their next four to put them in a tougher spot than they expected to be in. Just like the spring season, the COVID-19 pandemic was a huge obstacle for the Trojan football team.
“We have been battling a lot and we just got to practice on Friday, so we have players playing different positions,” McCauley told Robb Johnson of the Charles City Chronicle following a 17-9 loss against Poquoson.
When teams have their backs against the wall, the way that they respond is a good reflection of coaching.
After splitting their next two games, it would become evident for New Kent that the only way that they could possibly make postseason play would be by winning out.
McCauley’s Trojans did just that, winning their final two games.
“Two straight wins, and up-and-down season, we battled injuries, and we fought hard,” McCauley told Johnson after the final game of the season against Smithfield. “I believe we are better than a 5-5 team. We just have to keep grinding.”
Unfortunately, New Kent’s strong finish was still not enough for a playoff berth.
Although the Trojans did not make postseason play, there are plenty of positive takeaways from the season, starting with the fight that was shown when times were tough.
Even though the record may not show it, the culture being built by Coach McCauley at New Kent High School is undeniable.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
