Preseason Blitz: Dependability drives North Caddo’s football team

VIVIAN, LA (KTAL/KMSS) — After finishing 4-6, the Titans of North Caddo are working their way back to 500. The team is healthy, the team is energized and guess what? History is just that.

“Friday nights. I think that’s what it is really about, Friday nights, just being able to play,” sophomore running back Kobe Hill said.

That’s where the lights are the brightest, but these lights extend past sidelines through the tunnels, even outside the stadium. North Caddo head coach Chase Thompson, is focused on impacting the players lives and proving that the student truly does come before the athlete.

“Just motivates you to be better and motivates you to be a better player, a better student.
Staying out of trouble on and off the field,” Hill said.

“Got to have it in the classroom if you don’t have it in the classroom, it’s for nothing,
right? So the vast majority of kids are not going to go play college football. We love to send
them out to play college football, but absolutely,” Thompson said.

After progressing in the classroom, progression on the field comes next. With many
linemen returning for another season, the coach believes they’re ready to take the next step.

“We can line up in the box, offensive and defensive line and play with most people in the
state, I really do. I think we’re talented up front,” Thompson stated.

The one question mark the team has is about its skilled positions. The off-season saw a
lot of departures in that department, but there’s a glimmer of hope with their starting running
back, returning from injury. The end goal gets going with a clean slate, a dominant group of
linemen, and hope it has this team saying all the right things.

“Don’t get beat the same way twice,” Thompson said.

“Winning games. We want to go 1-0 every week,” Hill said.

“Control the things that you can control,” Thompson said.

Again, it all comes down to being a well-rounded individual in both aspects and the
term student athlete. There’s one trait the coach is looking for every player to have when they
come to school, practice or a game.

“Dependability, dependability. So at a school like North Caddo, we have possibly 35
football players on a really good day. So you’ve got to make sure that your kids are there
every single day and they’re locked in. They can play multiple positions, get to make sure from a
coaching standpoint that your roles are simple and they apply to a lot of people,” Thompson said.

The Titans open the season at the Bossier Bearkats on September 5.