BROOKSVILLE- Nature Coast coach Cory Johns has never gone through what’s he’s faced so far this 2017 season.
A campaign that’s been so far disrupted by inclement weather and Hurricane Irma, Johns has had to adjust not only how to fit in enough practices for his club but how to prepare for games on a short week. Last week Nature Coast played Central on Tuesday and Weeki Wachee on Friday and Johns stated it wasn’t easy getting his team prepared for two games in four days.
“Honestly we didn’t really practice at all throughout the week,” Johns said. “We watched a lot of film and really game planned for Weeki Wachee, but we didn’t step out onto the practice field. We wanted to control what we could control and that was the turnovers and penalties. Both Central and Weeki Wachee are both similar football teams so that did help somewhat when it came to game planning.”
The Sharks (4-1) currently have one of the most prolific rushing attacks in Hernando County, running for 314.5 yards per contest and Johns has a stable of backs to choose from. Leading the way on the ground is quarterback Fabian Burnett, who has rushed for 503 yards, scored three touchdowns and has also thrown for 315 and three scores. Alongside of him is 6-foot-2, 215-pound tailback Michael Weston, who has churned out 343 yards rushing so far this season. Change of pace backs Willie Coffey (124 yards) and Zach Powell (200 yards) have contributed as well.
“We are clicking where we need to be, outside of the turnovers and penalties,” Johns said. “The offensive line has done a great job for us and our quarterback Fabian Burnett has done a nice job. We have two running backs in (Michael) Weston and (Zach) Powell. Willie Coffey is our bulldozer in the Wildcat formation. He’s played a number of different positions for us.”
One of the Sharks’ closest contested games of the season by a team within the Hernando County borders came up against rival Central, who narrowly fell 28-26. In a contest that featured several back and forth momentum swings by both clubs, the Sharks were able to overcome numerous turnovers in picking up the slim 28-26 victory.
“I think we might’ve been the first team that were able to turnover the football six times and still win,” Johns said. “We turned the ball over and we had penalties and those are things you can’t do and expect to win. It was a good football game to be in I guess. It helped situational. The penalties and the turnovers are the biggest things right now.”
Getting players to focus in was an issue early on in the season for Nature Coast, as evident in the team’s district opener against Crystal River, a 19-6 win. Despite the outside distractions and game adjustments due to weather, the Sharks plan to take it one game at a time in the second half of the season.
“Our goal is to win every game we play in and if we improve, we have a chance to do that,” Johns added. “We want to take it one game at a time. Hopefully by the time we get to Hernando, we’ve taken care of business up to that point. We have Springstead after that and that’s a big rivalry game.”