First-year Brandon varsity football coach Ron Gill and the Blackhawks will be tested early and often in the 2003 campaign.
Brandon, entering their second year in the Flint Metro League, opens their year Aug. 28 at Mt. Morris, then plays their first home game Sept. 5 against Warren DeLaSalle, a member of the Catholic League. Brandon is looking to rebound from a 3-6 campaign in 2002.
The Blackhawks? first league game of the year comes Sept. 12 when they host Linden. Their other two home games of the year are Sept. 26 against Holly and Oct. 10 against Fenton.
Coach Ron Gill, in his first year as the Brandon head coach, will inherit a squad with 16 seniors out of the 46 players on the team. However, each member of the team is starting from scratch, Gill said.
‘Certainly, at the stage we’re in, they’re all underclassmen in the sense they’re learning a new offense and defense, and a new way of doing things,? he said.
The Blackhawks are preparing for the season by participating in a passing league each Monday evening at Atwich Stadium in Flint. Brandon goes up against some quality opponents, including Davison, Flint Powers and Flint Central.
In each game, one team’s quarterbacks, receivers and running backs go up against the other team’s defense, and the offense is only allowed to run pass plays. Gill said he was pleased with how quickly the Blackhawks are picking up the new offense.
Though he knows the Blackhawks will be challenged in league play ? Gill said the Flint Metro is ‘an excellent league? ? he said the team has demonstrated the type of work ethic needed to be successful.
‘They’ve been sacrificing their time and working for something greater than themselves, and that’s the team,? Gill said.