By JERRY BYRD JR., Journal Sports
Woodlawn head coach Thedrick Harris enters year No. 2 on Friday night as his Knights travel to Turpin Stadium to take on the Natchitoches Central Chiefs, a squad that overwhelmed the 2021 Knights 34-0 in Shreveport exactly a year earlier.
No disrespect to the Chiefs, but do not expect more of the same.
Through spring, summer, and preseason workouts, Harris’ team has shown their coach that they are stronger and faster than last year’s Knights.
“We have worked on toughness,” Harris said. “You cannot teach toughness, but we have seen a lot of progress, which has been a pleasant surprise.”
Another surprise has been the increase in numbers in the program. Last year, the Knights started with 28 players. Right now, Woodlawn is dressing out 55, and hoping to add a few more to the roster.
In the weight room and on the field, two players have impressed Harris the most with their leadership ability. Those players are Chadrick Jones and quarterback Isaiah Kennedy.
“They are doing everything that we ask them to do in terms of leadership,” Harris said. “They understand what we want in the locker room, and now they are taking on that role. When guys are late, they are the ones who are holding the players accountable. When the leadership starts to take that on, it’s a great sign.”
Woodlawn returns eight starters on offense and eight starters on defense off a team that got off to a fast start (3-1) before losing the last six games of the season.
But that was then, and this is now.
Sophomore Brandon Henderson will continue to play on both sides of the ball where he was an All-District selection at both free safety and wide receiver as a freshman.
“He is a rare talent,” Harris said. “He is known throughout the city for his 7-on-7 and basketball abilities. He has the ‘IT’ factor.”
Henderson, who holds offers from both Grambling State and Northwestern State, demonstrated his versatility in Friday’s jamboree against Huntington. He had two interceptions, caught a first-half touchdown pass which gave the Knights a 6-0 lead, and added a long kickoff return.
Harris said for 75 percent of the jamboree, he was happy with the way Woodlawn played, but three plays – a pick six, losing an onside kick, and giving up a big play on a screen — made the difference in the contest. Those are the little things that Harris and his staff are working to correct.
“We have to work on the mental aspect,” Harris said. “We have to understand situations. We’re still a young team. Offensively, we have to learn to take what the offense gives us. That comes with time. On defense, we have to be able to recognize formations and align properly. We had a couple of busts on alignment.”
Helping Harris with his Knights will be new offensive coordinator Mike Green, who comes to the Castle after serving as the head coach at Mansfield High School.
“Adding someone like him with his experience has been tremendous,” Harris said. “He has been able to add things to our offense that fit our athletes and utilize their talents.”
As far as the rest of Harris’ staff is concerned, Harris has been impressed with their overall attention to detail.
“They have put in the extra hours to understand the smaller details of the game,” Harris said. “How do you step? How do you get lined up properly? We’re coaching everything. When a kid comes off the field, I want them to get coached up. That’s the growth.”
Are the Knights where Harris expected them to be?
“We’ve made strides,” Harris said. “Both physically and mentally. I stress being on time and doing your job. It seems simple, but young people don’t understand. You have to remove the distractions and do the three or four things we are asking you to do on a play. And you have to do that 70 times during the course of a high school football game.”
Like he has seen improvement in his own football team, Harris sees an improved Natchitoches Central club as he has watched film of the Chiefs this week.
“They had a great season last year,” Harris said. “They are very well coached. Very physical. They don’t make many mistakes. They are sound in what they do. They have the athletes to grind out a series with 12 or 13 plays, or they can strike quick. Their defense is solid up and front. They are blitzing more and putting more pressure on the quarterback. They have improved. We are in for a dog fight.”
But the 2022 Knights appear to have a lot more bite for this year’s fight, Friday night and beyond.
Contact Jerry Byrd at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com
Photo by KEVIN PICKENS, Journal Sports