WHITMIRE — The Whitmire High School Wolverines were set to travel to Monetta tonight — weather permitting — to face the Ridge Spring-Monetta High School Trojans in the Wolverines’ second away game of the season but Tropical Storm Hermine decided it wanted a piece of the action.
The Aiken County School District cancelled school late Thursday along with all athletic events scheduled for today, and rescheduled the match-up between the two for 6 p.m. Monday.
Last year the Wolverines (1-1) lost to the Trojans 39-14 in the regular season, and lost to them again during the first round of the playoffs, 42-8. The last time the Wolverines defeated the Trojans (0-2) was in 1998 when the score was 26-20.
“We still have a lot of players who have never been in a leadership role. Ridge Spring-Monetta is a traditional Class A power. Our kids know that. We simply hope to keep building throughout the season,” Head Coach Charlie Jenkins said. “Sometimes confidence can only come from experience. We will definitely get our guys some playoff type experience … at Ridge Spring-Monetta.”
Jenkins added that the biggest challenge will be getting over the hump mentally, because the Trojans have beaten the Wolverines three times in the last two years.
The Trojans typically do a wishbone offensive strategy. Jenkins said they have always been a very physical running team.
“This year because of their skilled players’ talent and partially due to some injuries, they have been in the spread a lot for the first two games,” he said. “We will have to match their physical play.”
During this week’s practice Jenkins said they have been nailing down their assignment on offense and defense.
Jenkins said he hopes this game will be a close one.
“We will need for some things to go our way. We need to recover an onside kick, pick off a pass and recover a fumble or two,” he said.
Quarterback Bailey Holloman, who has been nursing an ankle sprain, is expected to suit up. Jenkins said he has practiced all week and looks ready to go.