Falcons know they face an uphill battle

North Pulaski has won a total of five games over the past seven seasons, and only one in the past three.

So its head coach has to be philosophical.

Teodis Ingram is. He became North Pulaski's head coach before the 2011 season and said frequent transfers from his feeder school's junior high programs have hampered his effort to stem the losing tide.

"What we're left with are kids who aren't exceptional athletes," Ingram said. "We have to take those kids and build a program around them, but I don't mind doing that.

"When you've lost for quite some time, then it starts to get into the mind-set that we just want to play football versus compete in football. That's a thing we're facing here, but it's just a thing that we have to work with. We have to try to build a program.

Ingram said he understands that everyone wants a quick fix.

"The problem with that is, a quick fix only gives you a short-term result," he said. "Then you're back to where you were."

Ingram said any level of success this season might help start a turnaround, and he has several experienced players in place to assist him.

Senior quarterbacks Michael Barnes and Hayden Dean rotated in the lineup last season and will again, Ingram said, although Barnes will start the season opener Friday at Little Rock Hall.

"Barnes has been here since he was in the ninth grade, so he knows the system and he's just a leader on the field," Ingram said. "There is a possibility Hayden Dean will start some games. He's a good athlete."

Dean, 6-3, is also one of the Falcons' top receivers.

"[Dean] can catch the ball well," Ingram said.

Senior tailback Kalise Vines moved into the starting lineup in the fifth game last season and rushed for 540 yards.

"He's a kid that we found late last year," Ingram said. "He kind of blossomed for us. He went in and hit the hole and he moved the chains."

Vines will run behind an offensive line led by senior right tackle Keaton Nichols, 6-3, 280.

"[Nichols] has the potential to be a college prospect," Ingram said. "He has great feet, and he moves well and he understands our blocking scheme."

Ingram said he also is confident his defense will be improved.

"I feel like we'll be faster on defense this year than we have been since I've been here," Ingram said. "I think we'll have seven or eight guys near the football on every play. I really feel like speed is going to help us."

Ingram said senior middle linebacker Brady Rhodes will provide leadership.

"He just has a nose for the football," Ingram said. "He could be one of the best linebackers I've coached in a long time."

Ingram said his excitement extends across the North Pulaski roster.

"These kids understand that the future of the program might be on their shoulder," Ingram said. "The thing is, they deserve some success and they don't want anyone to give it to them. We've been the team everyone circles on their schedule for homecoming.

"That's just fine, because now we can do one of two things. We can be the gift or we can be the spoiler, and I don't think we're going to be the team we've been in the past."

Sports on 08/30/2014