By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

Ellwood Christian Academy’s first-year head coach Trey Pike welcomes his first challenge as the Eagles open the season hosting 2A Francis Marion Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Eagles are coming off a five-win season in which they placed third in 1A and made it to the playoffs. However, Ellwood Christian was only 1-5 at home last season. Francis Marion went 2-4 on the road in 2014 and finished 2014 sixth in its division with a 3-7 overall record.

“The biggest thing I’m wanting to see is how our kids are going to compete Thursday night and see where we are at and what we need to do before we get into the essential games of region play and area play,” Pike said.

The Eagles and Rams scored 86 combined points in last year’s season-opener. Ellwood won that meeting 48-38.

“We’ve got to keep our defense off the field and offensively we need to hold the ball and let our defensive players rest as much as possible,” Pike said. “Ultimately that gives a great chance.”

Pike has been working his players hard all season, and now he is anxious to get his first year at Ellwood officially underway.

“If you say you don’t have butterflies, you aren’t a real coach,” Pike said. “Whether it is for one snap or whether it’s for half a game, everybody is going to feel it.”

 

Staff writer Daniel Evans contributed to this report.