The French Camp Academy Panthers will kick off the 2022 football season this week as they host the Winona Christian Stars.
For head coach Nathan Wright, this is usually his most difficult season of the week, going into a regular-season game without any scrimmage of even film on the other team.
“You always wish you had a little more time and it always seems that way for us,” Wright said. “It seems like there is so much more we need to get done with our scheme and our kids and find out what they can and can’t do. But I felt like Friday that we made some big strides in practice. Friday was our best day of practice so far and that’s a good thing. It doesn’t look like it will be a really productive week with all of the rain we are supposed to get so that will be interesting.”
Wright said he’s ready to see his team line up against someone else.
“We are ready to see where we are and gauge ourselves against someone else,” Wright said. “We have a lot of question marks and are going to see if they are going to be able to deliver or not on the field. We didn’t play last week and Winona did so they are a week ahead of us.”
This week
The Panthers will open the season on Friday as they host Winona Christian.
The Stars lost 42-6 on Friday night to rival Carroll Academy in the regular-season opener. Because French Camp didn’t play last week, Wright said he doesn’t have any film on the Stars. But that doesn’t mean Wright doesn’t know anything about the Stars.
“Coach (Ken) Chandler and I go way back,” Wright said. “I coached with him at Ackerman in 1997 and he coached my nephews at Winona. I helped him at Winona for one season so we know each other well. We didn’t have any film to send them so we are going into it kind of blind. You just know there are things we do that we have to be good at. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, you have to know what you are doing and be effective at it.”
Wright said not having any film is tough but it’s also something he’s used to.
“You do love to break down an opponent and know what they are going to be doing,” Wright said. “But sometimes, even when you do that, they will throw a monkey wrench into that and that can be even worse. I have learned the longer I do this, you better go in with at least three game plans in mind. The game is the game and there are only so many things you ca do. For us, we have to be balanced and adjust to what they do, no matter what offense of defense they give us.”
The two teams did not play last year because of a COVID outbreak at French Camp.
