Determination, commitment and grit. Those three characteristics seem to best describe what St. Andrew’s Head Coach Channing Ward has brought to the football program. Ward is now in his second season at the helm after leading the Saint’s to their first winning season in 10 years and a berth in the 2A playoffs. Our C-Spire Game of the Week features St. Andrew’s in a rematch of that playoff game against Bogue Chitto. While the Saints have moved up in classification to 3A, the challenge of numbers remains tough on the football roster with just 30 players.
“I’m not going to lie, playing 3A right now with 30 guys is hard. Moving up in class, we are going to be smaller, and we are still building football players,” said Coach Channing Ward. “We have a bunch of young guys trying to find their way. We have changed the culture here and we know we can play with anybody at times.”
The Saints enter this game with an 0-2 record with opening losses to Cathedral (47-28) and Ethel (46-21), but the scores are deceptive as in both contests St. Andrew’s was right there at halftime.
“We go into that first game tied at the break and down just two in the other,” said Coach Ward. “We have to come out and play a little harder and play the second half the same way as the first.”
Ward’s team is littered with young talent on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Will Crowder leads the offense and has been effective to start the year. Crowder has completed 25-50 passes for 389 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. His favorite target is senior wide receiver John William Walker who has an impressive 21 catches for 295 yards and four touchdowns so far. Coach Ward is not shy to say Walker, at 6’3 180 pounds, is the heart and soul of the team and a master motivator.
“John Walker is one of those guys, I want like 15 of him. He has total commitment, plays hard, even through injuries. You can’t teach heart and that’s what makes Walker a special player. Not only does he make great plays, but he motivates all the players around him and is a true leader.”
Walker has excelled even though defenses are doing their best to contain him by dropping 7-8 players in coverage and rushing just three. That’s where the offensive line and running backs must come into play. The Saints lost their top lineman and center in junior Hayden Mize during the jamboree game with a season ending knee injury. Again, with a small roster, there just isn’t a lot of depth. Junior running back Evan Arthur White can pop some big plays if he can find room to operate. White has 26 carries for 121 yards through the first two games. Coach Ward looks forward to having junior Pierce Ingram, 6’2 190 pounds, back in the line-up this week after sitting out last game with a hand injury. Ingram is formidable back and also mixing in freshman running back Timothy Thomas.
Bogue Chitto has struggled out of the gate as well, losing its first two games against Wesson (46-8) and Pisgah (7-3). Despite being outscored 53-11, Coach Ward knows what to expect. The Bobcats love to run the ball. That was the case in last year’s playoff game that Bogue Chitto won 34-12. Despite the Cats dropping down to Class 1A Coach Ward knows their offense schemes remain the same.
“They (Bogue Chitto) love to use lots of misdirection, to ground and pound the ball. That’s our kryptonite right now, how do we stop the run? We will have to find a way to slow down 5 (junior running back Jayden Poole) and 7 (freshman running back Ja’lein Powell),” said Coach Ward.
The Saints will lean heavily on their defensive leader in junior Dylan Tobias. He plays both linebacker and defensive end with 20 tackles, and four tackles for loss through the first two games. Junior linebacker Clark Bergin will play a big role as well as he is second on the team with 14 tackles and 2.5 for loss, along with senior linebacker James MacHost.
Coach Ward is teaching his team not to ride the highs and lows of the early, non-conference season, they’ve got a long way to go and lots of growing to do.
“Sometimes teams go 2-0 or 0-2. Either way we need to keep our heads up and continue to get better. All these pre-district games are glorified practices. We can go 0-5 then 5-0. Our job is to keep the team together. Our biggest motivation this week is losing to them last year in the playoffs. We are going to let them know they are in for a fight,” said Coach Ward.
The Saints have come to believe in their coach as he brings a wealth of football knowledge and experience. Ward played defensive end at Ole Miss and went on to play in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Taking over a team that needed to be rebuilt from the ground-up is not for everybody, but Ward has embraced it.
“I love the challenge of this. There is more enjoyment when you change the culture. It’s different when you build one yourself versus inheriting a winner. I tell the kids all the time, don’t miss this opportunity of playing with your friends and being in high school. They don’t understand how fast these four years pass. I want them to enjoy and take advantage of this time,” said Ward.
St. Andrew’s is on an upward trajectory and it’s a testament to the will of the players and the mentorship of their coach. There may only be 30 players on the roster, but they have as much determination, commitment and grit as the best teams in the state.
ST. ANDREW'S AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: MHSAA 3A Region 5
Record: 0-2
Head Coach: Channing Ward
Assistant Coaches: Dan Roach, Kiery Stribling, Terrance Nelson.
The Series: Tied 1-1
Last Match-Up: Bogue Chitto won 34-12 in the first round of 2024 2A Playoffs
BOGUE CHITTO AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: MHSAA 1A Region 7
Record: 0-2
Head Coach: BJ Smithhart
Assistant Coach: Chad Norton
ST. ANDREW'S KEYS TO VICTORY
On Offense: Try to get the ball moving on the ground. Bogue Chitto is expecting the pass and will not only double up on John William Walker, but send the blitz against Will Crowder. If the Saints can find some room between the tackles, then success awaits.
On Defense: Stop the run. The Bobcats have only scored 11 points in two games. They are not potent IF you can stack the line. Bogue Chitto has also been prone to turnovers so try to rip the ball out when making tackles.
