Monarchs hungry for winning record

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Last year, the Manning High School Monarchs finished the season with a 4-6 record, a junior varsity quarterback, and mere points away from making the playoffs. Third year Head Coach Tony Felder is not looking to repeat that. “Last year, we were disappointed. We had our woes, particularly our quarterback woes,” said Felder. “Some personnel issues and injuries left us playing with a junior varsity quarterback. It was a challenge; however, we endured. That shows the character of the kids.” Felder hopes that the discipline, attitude, and hunger instilled in his kids last season will be the catalyst for major improvement this season. “We’ve instilled a whole lot of discipline this year,” Felder said. “We’ve had to kick kids off the team. We’re turning a new leaf there, so we’re not only building a football team, but building character among young men. We want to have some kids with strong character.” One of the players who will be a key component in helping the Monarchs turn over this new leaf is senior running back and defensive back Twon Collymore. “If we don’t have that senior leadership, we won’t have that one mindset or pride in the team,” said junior linebacker and running back Jabril Wilson. “Twon is one of the biggest leaders that we have on our team. He steps up and gets everybody in check.” Felder will be looking to Collymore to help fill the shoes of college-commit Ra’quan Bennett, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards a season while in a Monarch uniform. But possibly the most valuable asset that he brings to the team is his leadership. Collymore has been playing football for seven years, and he brings that experience and guidance to a young Monarch team. “We’re a young team, so everybody’s got a shot,” Felder said. “I don’t mind playing a ninth grader if that ninth grader can get it done.” Because the team is young and has only nine returning starters, Felder will be looking to some younger players with game experience to step up. “We’ve got some young guys who were one quarter players last year, who played junior varsity and varsity, who have game experience,” Felder said. “So we are depending on them.” Despite their youth, the players have been showing discipline and heart very early. “Offseason workouts have been the best since I’ve been here, even as an assistant,” Felder said. “I think that’s going to make the difference in a lot of situations this year. I think that with the camaraderie of the coaching staff and the hard work of the players, we can have a winning season.” In addition to Collymore, Felder says the players to watch are center Ian Vincent and Jabril Wilson. “We expect them to show some team leadership and get it done, not just on the field,” said Felder. Vincent, who will be playing his third year on varsity, will also be seen at right guard and tackle. The senior says that the focus the team learned from last year will be key to their success. “Last year, we learned that we need to be more focused as a team,” Felder noted. “We’re bringing that focus to this season, and we showed that by working really hard in the offseason.” Wilson is a linebacker and running back who, as a junior, is looking to contribute to the team’s success. He said that while the team has to be focused, they also have to be on the same page. “We’re going to have to be of one accord, one mindset,” he said. “Last year, we weren’t that ‘one team’ that we needed to be. We missed practice, missed everything. Now we’re getting better. We’re coming to practices, weightlifting. We’re thinking as one team.” Besides focus and unity, one problem from last year that Farmer will be looking to remedy is the team’s quarterback woes. After losing their starting quarterback at the beginning of last season, the team went on to finish the season with a JV quarterback running the offense. This year, Felder hopes to find a solution in transfer Jalen White. He says that White’s one of the players to watch for, but that “everybody’s got question marks right now.” Felder hopes that once the starting lineup has come together and the team steps on the field, they will have turned that new leaf for a successful season. He knows that his players want it just as much as he does. “They’re hungry, very hungry. They’re eager to get after it. They couldn’t wait for the season to start,” he said. “I think with their eagerness and the offseason workouts, we’ll be a different Manning Monarch team.” The Monarchs defeated Scott's Branch High School at home Friday in their first game of the season.