Veterans Warhawks prepare to take flight against cross-county rival
Veterans will look for its first win of the season in its first home game of the year against the Perry Panthers on Friday night in our Game of the Week on The End Zone.
KATHLEEN, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – Veterans will look for its first win of the season in its first home game of the year against the Perry Panthers (2-1) on Friday night in our Game of the Week on The End Zone.
Under third-year head coach Josh Ingram, these 0-3 Warhawks have faced some challenges the last two seasons; the program is seeking its first win since September 15, 2023.
The lull has come with its fair share of injuries and setbacks, including the loss of the team’s starting senior quarterback halfway through last season and having three straight road games to open the season this year. This Friday will be Veterans’ first home game since the last week of October last year.
After only scoring 22 points combined in their last five games last season, Veterans is averaging more 21 points a game this season, and the Warhawks are looking to take flight, and bounce back, against a team they almost beat last year. Perry won 49-41 to tie the all-time series, which dates back to 2010, at seven games apiece.
‘It’s a tough way to start the year,” Coach Josh Ingram said at Tuesday’s practice. “Three road trips, we had to go on the road in playoff environments; young team. I thought that obviously they kept fighting, and it’s good to see some of our young kids grow up.”
Ingram is hungry to get his first win against Perry. Veterans hasn’t won this game since coach Milan Turner beat the Panthers three straight years from 2018 to 2020. Coach Ingram’s message to his squad is never give up, work hard and get better every day.
“We’re back at home finally,” he said. “We had an off week last week, so we are healthy. We are ready to get home and play in Middle Georgia for a change. All we do is look at day to day, play to play operations. Just do the best you can, win each play to your best ability. If you do that, if all 11 do that, then winning takes care of itself. So, don’t look at the scoreboard, don’t look at the future, just concentrate on each day, each play, and continue to get better.”
Senior linebacker Kane Byrd says the team is working as hard as possible.
“Having the leaders out here definitely impacting these guys, and getting them ready for a big game,” he said. “It’s a big rivalry for us, so we’re getting our mindset right, doing things we didn’t do last week, getting that right, and just coming in with the mindset to win.”
Veterans hosts Perry Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Field.
Don’t miss live pregame coverage ahead of our Game of the Week during 41NBC News at 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m. Catch highlights from this game, and others, on Friday’s edition of The End Zone during 41NBC News at 11.
