Eagles eying 3-game win streak

Published 12:05 am Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Robert Scott and the Eagles look to win their third-straight game. Josh Dutton/Star-News

Robert Scott and the Eagles look to win their third-straight game.
Josh Dutton/Star-News

The Pleasant Home (3-3) takes on Class 1A, Region 2 foe Kinston (0-6) in Pleasant Home on Friday, and the Eagles look to match their best win streak since winning three-straight during the 2012 season.

This will be the 17th match up between Kinston and Pleasant Home with series currently tied 8-8.

Kinston won last season’s contest 14-2.

“This one of those games that can lull you in because of their record,” Pleasant Home head coach Chris Mason said. “It can make you think it should be easy, but I can promise you that Kinston is still hungry and they are going to play hard.”

Pleasant Home comes into the game on two-game win streak after defeating Florala and McIntosh the previous two weeks.

Mason said that the Eagles are excited about the current two-game win streak, but that can’t get in the way of the task at hand.

“We want the to enjoy these past two games, but we still have to come out ready to play on Friday,” Mason said. “We don’t need to walk out there expecting and easy win. This kind of success is new to us and we have no business thinking that anyone is going to be any easy win.”

Kinston has struggled this season, getting off to their worst start since 2011 when they lost the first six games of the year.

Last week, Kinston fell 35-14 to McKenzie. The Bulldogs have been outscored 263-50 through six games this season.

“This Kinston team may not be as talented as some of their teams in the past, but this is still a team that does the little things right,” Mason said. “We can’t look at their record and expect to win.”

Mason said that Eagles must do the small things right, like tackling, if they want to win.

“They are going to try and drain the clock,” Mason said. “We have to have a bend don’t break mentality. We have to hold on, wrap up and gang tackle. They have some athletes that are as fast as anyone we have, and if we let them loose they can take it to the house.”

One thing Mason wants to see is a strong start from the Eagles.

“The past three weeks we have started slow, but we finished strong,” Mason said. “I want us to finish with a good opening drive or a stop. Setting the pace of early is what I want to see us do.”

Mason said that the he has seen things he liked over the past few weeks.

“I was excited about the way we passed he ball last week,” Mason said. “Now, if they decided to stack the box, we can get them to back off by throwing the ball. I’m proud of the success and growth that this team has shown this year. The kids are playing like they want to win. It’s exciting and it’s kind of like watching my own kids. I’m very proud of these guys.”