Ridgeland-Hardeeville has positive outlook for season

It’s been a long time coming for the Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School football team. A change in the culture has taken shape, and a growing depth chart has given the Jaguars a positive outlook.

“We look better than we did last year,” junior wideout Ronald Zimmerman said. “We’ve had more people showing up. I heard there were not a lot of people on the team last year. We’ve been in the weight room a lot more too, so we’ve been getting bigger and faster. I’ve seen a couple fast 40-yard dash times too. We’re motivated. This is nothing but football, and it’s easy. And it’s fun.”

Head Coach Jahmaal Nelson plans to start a couple freshmen in key positions, such as defensive back. Although it’s one of the most coveted and difficult positions on the field, Nelson believes his guys won’t flinch. “We’re looking at about two or three that may start on defense,” Nelson said.

“I have trust in all of them. They come out here and do the things they are supposed to do. I tell them all the time I started all four years in high school. If they are ready to handle it, we will find out in the first game.”

If you ask the Jags, their 2-8 record from a year ago is no indication of what’s to come. In fact, they are determined to create a brand of football that will earn the respect of their peers.

“I think people are tired of losing,” Freddie Aiken said. “We’re trying to start winning.”

“We’re getting sick and tired of the losing record,” Zimmerman said.

And that spark could come from the defensive side of the ball where Aiken and Zimmerman say the team has grown by leaps and bounds.

“Our defense looks pretty good,” Aiken said. “We’ve got some hitters. Everyone is flying to the ball.”

“We’ve got some bigger linebackers too,” Zimmerman said. “In the past, it was just one man trying to make a tackle. But now everyone is tackling.”

The Jags return a lot of familiar faces on offense, which could help offset the inexperience on defense.

“Right now, we have quite a few starters on the offensive line,” Nelson said. “Both of our guys are back at wide receiver. We have a little bit more experience than we did last year. We’re going to be young overall. We only have five seniors. We had a big turnover from last year, and we have a lot of kids giving it a try for the first time.”

Nelson believes the first game of the season is extremely important and hopes to kick the season off with a bang. A taste of glory early on could be the momentum booster the team needs to thrive.

“We’ve got to get that win under our belt,” Nelson said. “We play Thomas Heyward first. They are half a mile down the street. They’ve got a really good quarterback. ... We really have to play well defensively.”

But Aiken and Zimmerman are looking a lot further down the schedule, saying the game against Bluffton could be their shot at redemption.

“That game was hectic,” Aiken said. “I think they felt like they knew they were going to beat us.”

“I didn’t like how the score ended, but this year I’ll be ready for it,” Zimmerman said.

This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Ridgeland-Hardeeville has positive outlook for season."