A whole new ballgame with Earwood at the helm of OLM

It wasn’t in Mike Earwood’s plans to leave Starr’s Mill, but when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to get to go back to teaching full-time and coaching, he started looking for a new position and found a place at Our Lady of Mercy. Things have started off pretty well.

Our Lady of Mercy is enjoying their highest turnout for football in their history, thanks at least in part to Earwood’s reputation, and the team opened the season with a 41-18 win over Cross Keys from Class AA last Saturday.

Everybody’s happy.

“I like the way things are going,” said Earwood in an interview prior to Saturday’s win. “I enjoy being back teaching and involved with the faculty.”

Our Lady of Mercy has 60 players on the roster and while not all of those students have played, they are eager to learn.
A junior varsity program is in place, developing a feeder program for the varsity.

“These are committed kids and we have a good base,” Earwood said.

Among the players in that base are a good nucleus of seniors that are providing the team with solid leadership. These players include middle linebacker Greg Hadley, defensive end Bolden Davis, nose guard Nolan Bynum and Charles Ategbole. At free safety and the corners are Pierce Vincent, Cam Singletary and Jordan Sartor. Earwood likes his defensive front a lot and the progress they are making and thinks the secondary could be one of the team’s strengths.

On offense, Hadley and Vincent will both get time at fullback, while junior Lance McGuffie is at quarterback.

“He’s been getting better and better since spring,” Earwood said.

At tailback is where the big story, at least from the first game, is. Sophomore Rashard Fant, 5’11 and 155, rushed for three first half touchdowns in Mercy’s season opening win and wowed the crowd with his speed and skill at finding running room.
“He’s a tremendous football player and has the potential to be as good as anyone I’ve coached,” Earwood said. “He can fly, has great skills and brings a lot to the table.”

Helping provide Fant and the offense find some of that running room is a line that features players like Matt Frank and Brendan File. Earwood thinks Frank, 6’1, 260, has the chance to play in college too.

Senior Kyle Sharp will handle the kicking duties.
As impressive as the season opening win was, the Bobcats will have their work cut out for them in a region that has become increasingly competitive and with a schedule that will keep them on the road until Oct. 8.

Before Our Lady of Mercy begins region play at the home of their rival, Landmark Christian, on Sept. 17, the Bobcats will have games at Temple and Glascock County, both 2-8 in 2009.

“I don’t know much about the region, it’s a whole different deal for me,” said Earwood. “Landmark Christian and Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy are the traditional powers and Whitefield Academy was strong. We are making vast improvements but this program had a long way to go and still does.”

Still, Earwood notes his and the players excitement and Saturday night’s win is sure to stoke the fires of the fan base, one that is growing by the minute and is eagerly waiting to see what they’ll do for an encore.