With a 2-0 start to the 2024 season, the Kirk Academy Raiders’ offense has grabbed most of the attention averaging 42 points per game.
Lost in all of this has been the play of the defense, which has allowed only seven points in eight quarters and slightly more than 100 yards per game. It’s a fact that hasn’t escaped second-year head coach Colin Boone, who shouted their praises as they prepare for Friday’s road contest at Central Holmes Christian School in Lexington.
“Our guys are playing very hard on defense,” Boone said. “We go into every game trying to stop the run, not give up big plays and take away the opponents’ best player. Your plan going into a game is to take away what they do best and, so far, we have been able to do that.”
Boone is also pleased with his team’s 2-0 start, but knows that they can be better.
“We want to get better,” he said. “I don’t think we are where we need to be at this point. Our goal is to get better every practice and every game.”
This week, the Raiders turn their attention to a Central Holmes team that is also 2-0 on the young season. They have wins over Oak Hill (21-19) and West Memphis, Ark. (44-12) – both on the road.
“Central Holmes is a very talented football team,” Boone said. “They have several new players, who weren’t part of the program last year.”
Senior Josh Robinson takes over at quarterback and anchors the defense at linebacker. He is joined by classmates Cardell Mitchell at running back and defensive back, Luis Cortes at wide receiver and defensive back and Ethan Witt at wide receiver and defensive back. Senior Byron Gallagher anchors the offensive and defensive lines for the Trojans.
“They have a lot of speed and size,” Boone said. “We will have our work cut out for us and present a lot of problems for us. We will have to play well to win the game.”
Boone sees some similarities in the 2024 Trojans and last year’s group.
“They like to run the quarterback counter like they did last year,” he said. “They run motion trying to get you looking one way and run back the other way. Offensively, they spread you out some and sometimes they will come at you. Defensively, they run a 3-3 Stack and try to blitz you every play. They are very aggressive on defense and we are going to have to be gap sound.”
Central Holmes Christian is coached by first-year head coach Tommy Acy, who comes to Lexington after three years as an assistant coach at Pillow Academy in Greenwood. Prior to that, Acy worked for seven years as an assistant coach at Carroll Academy. He has never been a head coach.
“I am excited about the opportunity that Central Holmes has given me,” Acy said. “I think being at a small school for your first head coaching job benefits you because you deal with the players you have. It’s been an adjustment period for me to the players and the players to me. We are off to a good start.”
Acy knows his team will face their toughest opponent to date with Friday’s contest with Kirk.
“Kirk is a very solid football team that likes to run the football behind a big offensive line,” Acy concluded. “Hopefully, our defensive line and linebackers can hold up against them, and slow them down some.”
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Lexington.
