Homecoming.
It’s a distraction-filled week for football players, however, Kirk Academy first-year head football coach Justin Purvis has been pleased how his players have balanced all of the activities surrounding the annual celebration, along with preparing for Friday night’s game against Manchester.
“I think our guys have enjoyed all the activities surrounding Homecoming, but they have also been committed to football,” he said. “They know what is at stake with the opportunity to get to 3-3 on the season.”
Purvis had one message to his team regarding this week.
“I just told our guys if there is anything that could jeopardize us going 1-0 this week, we didn’t need to do it,” he said. “This game could be the turning point in our season and, hopefully, we can get to 3-3 with four weeks left in the season.”
Kirk is facing a Manchester team that is just 1-4 on the season, picking up a 28-0 win over Discovery Christian School. The Mavericks have scored just 41 points this season.
“When you watch Manchester on tape, they don’t do much offensively and defensively,” Purvis said. “Sometimes that is good because they can be good at what they do. They have some athletes at receiver and depending on what quarterback is playing. Offensively, they come at you with a look that can hurt if you fall asleep. They have a young team with not a lot of depth. We are going to have to play sound defensively or they will hurt you.”
Purvis was quick to point out that this game was far from a given for his team.
“At times, we aren’t a very good football team,” Purvis concluded. “We can’t anticipate any game being a gimme. It’s a good football team and we are trying to go 1-0 this week. We try to prepare that way and play that way. I think our players have done a good job in preparation this week.”
Senior Gage Vance leads the Raiders with 94 rushes for 653 yards and seven touchdowns to go with one touchdown reception. Classmate Linton Carson is 31-of-54 for 434 yards and seven touchdowns, while running for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, seniors Hayes Horan and Hayden Baker have been solid, along with junior Connor Brower, who had two interceptions, including one returned 100 yards for a touchdown in last week’s 40-26 road win at Greenville St. Joseph.
Homecoming festivities begin at 6:20 p.m. with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
