South Lenoir- Trust the Process
Photo by: Ricki Lane
Heading into his third year as head coach at South Lenoir, Coach Will Harrell has faced significant challenges. Before Harrell's arrival, the Blue Devils had managed only seven victories combined over the previous four years. In his tenure, Harrell has secured four wins, but his impact goes beyond the scoreboard. He has successfully shifted the culture in Deep Run, including a notable victory over cross-town rivals North Lenoir, the first since 2018. The community's support for Harrell is unwavering, recognizing the run-and-gun coach's efforts despite a string of bad luck with injuries. Adding to the complexity, the Blue Devils compete in one of football's most formidable conferences, facing state champions like East Duplin, Wallace Rose-Hill, and other powerhouses such as James Kenan and Kinston.
Will Harrell, Head Coach- Building Culture
Summary: Sophomore head coach Will Harrell of South Lenoir discusses his 16-year coaching experience, his mission to build a strong program and culture, and the community's support. He acknowledges the team's youth and inexperience but emphasizes the importance of growth and character development.
Quote: "I'm going to be very young, going to be inexperienced in some areas, but you know I fully expect us to get better the season program goes on... it builds very strong character in these young men and really going into what they're going to be doing later in life."
Brandon Battle, JV Head Coach- Harrell’s Prodigy
Summary: Coach Brandon Battle talks about his background, his seven-year coaching partnership with Coach Harold, and his mission to build character in the youth through football. He emphasizes that his coaching philosophy is about more than just winning games.
Quote: "My mission here, like anywhere I go, is to build with the kids, with the youth, through sports, through football. My motto is it's always bigger than Sports... it definitely helps, it builds like resilience, like you got to battle through adversity and all of that to be the best."
Jed Day, Linebacker- Senior Leader
Summary: Senior Jed Day discusses his readiness to take on a bigger role as a leader in the upcoming season. He expresses his belief in Coach Harold and the positive culture change he's bringing to the program.
Quote: "I Believe In Coach Harold, I believe what he's going on here, big culture change... I think with Coach Harold here in the next couple years I definitely think that'll change. I love Coach Harrell, I think he's been the best coach that we've had."
Wyatt Reavis, DB- Agression seeker
Summary: Senior Wyatt Reavis emphasizes the importance of winning to him and his desire to change the winning culture at South Lenoir, not just for the current season but for future seasons as well.
Quote: "Winning at football would mean everything to me since I got here... I would love to change the culture here, especially for us to win, not only just for this season but for the seasons after I'm gone, really change how we are."
Frank Haddock, Senior WR/DB- Filling Big Shoes
Summary: Senior Frank Haddock describes himself as a confident player and shares his offseason efforts to improve, including spending time in the weight room and working on footwork drills.
Quote: "I spent a lot of time in the weight room, outside doing footwork drills to get better, do anything I can do just to get better and be a better player."
Overview:
OFFENSE— The offensive strategy for the Blue Devils promises to be exciting under Coach Will Harrell's guidance. Last year's quarterback, Landon Tyndall, achieved remarkable success, throwing for more yards than any other QB in the school's recent history. Tyndall's eight touchdown passes were the most at South Lenoir since Cameron Parrish's 10 in 2010. His senior year total of 1,142 passing yards set a new school record, an achievement made even more impressive considering he played only eight games as a quarterback. This record stands as the highest total since the school began tracking stats on MaxPreps in 2009.
Though Tyndall has moved on, the architect of his success, Coach Harrell, remains at the helm. South Lenoir's offense will likely be driven by a group of younger, developing skill players. While I have faith in Coach Harrell and his system, the team may face challenges until they discover a bona fide star to ignite their potential. The foundation is there, and the future looks promising as the Blue Devils continue to build and grow.
DEFENSE—The Blue Devils' defense will be spearheaded by senior linebacker Jed Day, who is stepping into a new position this year and is enthusiastic about the learning curve. Day is a student of the game and takes pride being one of the smartest players on the field. With a youthful roster that leaves them no option but to grow, South Lenoir is in a phase of development. The graduation of many players last year has opened doors for eager underclassmen ready to prove themselves. In the secondary, Frank Haddock stands out as a confident and athletic cornerback, poised to bolster South Lenoir's defense.
As the season approaches, many questions linger, and answers will need to be found quickly. The replacements may be young, but they bring with them a tremendous opportunity. The potential for growth and the promise of new talent could mark a turning point for the Blue Devils.
In conclusion:
Coach Will Harrell is a great coach! Do not let the record fool you, SL is a lot better every year since Harrell took over as the head coaching job. A couple key injuries here and there has held back this team. The Blue Devils need to Trust the Process!
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