Silverdale Baptist Academy football coach John Allen has announced this will be his final season with the program. Allen actually informed the school’s administration before the start of the current season and had hoped to keep his decision private. However, once word leaked to his players, Allen was forced to address the team.
“I had just wanted to give the school enough time to find a new coach, so I told them back in the summer,” Allen said. “It’s really not a big deal. But word got out and that was my fault, but I’ve talked to the team now and we’re all focused on getting better on the field and finishing this season strong.”
Allen has been the Seahawks’ coach for five years, compiling a 21-24 overall record that includes playoff appearances in each of the past three seasons. Silverdale is 0-3 this season.
“This wasn’t just a quick decision,” Allen said. “When I came here, I knew I wouldn’t be here forever. My wife and I talked about it and prayed about it, and it just felt like the right time would be to move on after this season. The program is in good shape right now. It’s headed in the right direction. We’ve had good years here and it’s going to get better because there’s a lot of young talent.
“I just didn’t want to make a big announcement after the season, and I felt like the right thing to do for the program was to go ahead and tell the administration so they would have plenty of time to search for the next guy.”
Bruins seek turnaround
There is bad news and good news for the Northwest Whitfield Bruins as they try to rebound from a horrid start to the football season. Playing a straight Region 7-AAAA schedule, they are 0-2 and already in a deep hole. But with eight region games left to play, they still control their own destiny.
Now if only they can find the end zone. They have been shut out both games so far.
“It’s been terrible, the most unforeseen thing in my coaching career,” said Northwest’s Mike Falleur, whose team hosts 0-2 Sequoyah tonight. “You name it, we’ve done it wrong, but the kids are working hard. It’s not like they’re not practicing hard, and it can turn around. We’ve just got to show it on Friday nights.”
Double doughnuts
By winning19-0 at Ooltewah last week, Soddy-Daisy accomplished something no football team at the school has in 37 years. Because the Trojans had beaten Hixson 26-0 the week before, it marked back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the 1973 team beat Rhea County by six and Tyner by 14 to start the season.
“Really, the kids buying into what’s been put in front of them has made the difference,” Soddy-Daisy coach Kevin Orr said. “They’ve studied every moment of time they’ve had. They know the defense inside and out, and they work so well together. You can’t single any one guy out. It’s been a group effort of all 11 – actually 15 or 16.”
The last time the Trojans held three consecutive opponents scoreless was 1964, beginning with a tie against Hixson, followed by a 14-point victory over Notre Dame and a 21-point win over City. Red Bank (2-0) will try to halt the streak tonight when it hosts Soddy-Daisy (2-1) at 7:30.
“They’ve got their normal dose of speed, which can bite you every now and then,” Orr said of the Lions, “but I think we’re prepared.”