New Brockton seeking to rebuild in spring game against Goshen

The New Brockton Gamecocks went up against the Goshen Eagles in a spring game Friday, May 20, and lost 59-26. The Gamecocks are in the midst of a rebuilding year after losing key starters to graduation, including at quarterback, from last year’s team who had played together for three years.

Coach Zach Holmes was pleased with the overall effort of the team despite hiring four new coaches who had to come in at different times in the spring. After evaluating the game, he feels like he has a clear roadmap to move forward over the summer.

“There were some difficulties and some challenges but those guys (coaches) did a great job of coming together and making it happen (with only eight practices),” said Holmes. “You would wonder why I would schedule a game but it’s better to find out your deficiencies and what you need to work on. That’s easier to do when you play someone else. It gives us a chance to play a bunch of guys and find out where their deficiencies are.”

New Brockton had a rough time of it to begin the game. The Gamecocks started with the ball and fumbled it away after going for it on fourth down. Goshen took one play 39 yards to find the end zone and went up 6-0 after the PAT was no good.

“The way the kids responded to adversity was great,” said Holmes. “They were encouraging each other and saying all the right things at the right moments and there wasn’t negativity. That’s also exciting to see.”

On the next possession for the Gamecocks, the ball was fumbled again and Goshen recovered, taking one play 37 yards again to score. The PAT was good this time and the Eagles were up 13-0 with 9:18 left in the first quarter.

After the Gamecocks elected to punt on their third possession, Goshen once again scored in one play, going 70 yards on a run around right tackle by Szcmerick Andrews, and the Eagles were up 19-0 after a failed PAT with 7:31 left in the first quarter.

“There were some guys doing things for the first time like Baylon Foster playing quarterback and Karyus McNabb starting at running back and these guys had to get settled in,” said Holmes. “That played a part in the game early with some of the turnovers and mishaps. I’m super proud of those guys the way they responded and competed and finished and made some really good plays.”

The New Brockton offense managed to get into a rhythm on its fourth possession and got on the scoreboard after a seven play drive capped off by a 41 yard run by McNabb with 4:52 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was good and the Gamecocks trailed 19-8.

The defense managed to get a three-and-out from the Eagles but the offense couldn’t move the ball and had to punt to end the first quarter.

Goshen found the end zone again with 11:10 on the clock in the second quarter after picking up 40 yards on two plays and then went up the middle for 11 yards to score their fourth touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good and the Eagles led 25-8. Goshen scored one more time before the half after a 70-yard fingertip catch and the PAT was no good.

New Brockton scored two more times before the half, the first time with 4:03 on the clock after a six yard run by McNabb, and the second time with 29 seconds left before halftime on a 20 yard run by McNabb. The two-point conversion was no good after both scores. The Gamecocks were behind 39-20 at the half.

Goshen scored three more touchdowns in the third quarter and New Brockton scored one more on a 43-yard pass from Foster to Matt Smith.

The JV teams took over in the fourth quarter to play out the game.

“I told the kids, sometimes what happened is better to be on that end because it gives you a drive to go to work, “said Holmes. “No matter what the score was, this team is 0-0. You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach right now? That’s what’s going to drive us over the next three months and the next three days.

“I like the direction of our program,” said Holmes. “This staff has never coached together and half the staff is new. We’ve never worked together until three weeks ago and I thought they did a great job coaching in the game and teaching the kids.

“The mood in the locker room after the game, everyone was obviously disappointed about the loss but I think some of the young guys now know they can play, I can do these things and the confidence that comes from that is really important.”

New Brockton finished the game with 253 total yards of offense with 161 yards rushing on 33 carries and 92 yards passing. Foster led all rushers with 74 yards on nine carries. McNabb rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns. Smith was the leading receiver with 77 yards and a touchdown.

Andrews was the leading rusher for Goshen with 253 yards on nine rushes and scored four touchdowns.

New Brockton will open the 2022 season Aug. 19 at home against Elba.