Ridgway Christian appears to have enough players to field senior high and junior high football teams this upcoming season, which will also be the school’s first year of football either level.
According to Ridgway Christian athletic director and football coach Trent Young, the senior high has at least 12 players and the junior high team has 10 players. That is just enough players since Ridgway will play eight-man football in the Arkansas Association for Christian Schools.
“I think we will have enough for senior high and junior high, and I hope to have more numbers,” Young said. “I think there is going to be more coming up. I think we will have to move some freshmen up to the senior high team. Looks like we are on goal right now for both of them.”
Young took over as Ridgway Christian’s athletic director more than two weeks ago and the decision to start football at the school was made on July 23 at a meeting with parents.
The first two practices in the history of Ridgway Christian’s football team took place Monday and Tuesday, and Young said the practices went well.
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“Saw some improvement (Tuesday) over (Monday),” Young said. “They are picking up things and that’s what we are looking for. … They are learning and I am proud of that.”
The players have also shown the attitude Young is hoping for.
“The attitudes are good so far and they are getting along and helping each other,” he said. “I am looking for leadership and some players have stepped up in that role.”
The team is practicing in helmets and shorts this week before moving to pads. Since Ridgway Christian just started the program, it is a bit short on equipment.
Young said another school has stepped up to help out in that area, though.
“I talked to coach (Greg) Tiner in Monticello and they are going to help me out,” Young said. “They are going to take inventory and we don’t know what they will help out with. What I don’t get from coaches, we will buy and the school is backing the program 100 percent.”
Young is still finalizing a schedule for the upcoming season, but the first game is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 14 against Southwest Christian out of Little Rock.
Ridgway Christian also does not have a home football field. Young is going to see if some area schools are willing to let the Eagles play at its home stadium when it is on the road.
“That’s still to be determined and I am going to try and work hard on that (today),” Young said. “I am hoping to clear that up by the end of the week.”