New Brockton looks to rebound on the road at WS Neal

The New Brockton Gamecocks (3-2) hit the road this Friday and travel 84 miles west to Brewton to face off against the WS Neal Eagles (0-4) on Friday, Sept. 24.

The Gamecocks are coming off a frustrating 60-18 loss to Wicksburg last week, while the Eagles have started the season off with four straight losses including a 42-0 loss to Williamson last week.

Despite WS Neal’s lack of success in 2021, the school is a Class 5A program and New Brockton coach Zack Holmes is well aware of the size difference, not just in school size.

“WS Neal is a big, athletic, physical football team that plays in a really, really tough region,” Holmes said. “When you think about the challenge of going on a long road trip and playing a team that’s a bigger classification than you, those types of challenges are why I scheduled them.

“It’s also their homecoming and I think they’re going to get after it and we’re going to get their best shot.”

Even still, Holmes said that what matters is most is that the Gamecocks must make sure that they are doing all the right things and especially being more consistent.

“We have to make sure as coaches we’re giving the guys the best chance to win and that starts with me,” Holmes emphasized. “In spurts we looked really good (last week) but we just have to be more consistent.

“It’s about us and making sure we’re playing consistently and all 11 guys on the field are doing their jobs consistently. That’s what it takes to be successful.”

The Gamecocks will likely once again have to take the field without starting quarterback Kaden Cupp, who suffered a “lower leg” injury leading into the Wicksburg game. Holmes said that there is no timetable for his return.

“He’s working to get back,” Holmes said. “We don’t know the time line for sure yet. We’ll see what that time is but his focus right now has to be his health and getting him back healthy as soon as we can.”