The South Fork Cubs are gearing up for another season playing eight-person football, kicking off on Friday night at home to Cornerstone Christian.

And a relatively young Cubs team can expect a baptism of fire against a top-notch Cougars team that returns 10 players from a 2018 squad that was 9-0.

“It’s going to be a real tough game,” South Fork head coach Karl Terrell said.

This season the Cubs will rely on a core group of returning players, especially early in the campaign as several newcomers adjust.

Terrell has just one returning senior on his squad, defensive end Ian Burton, who is expected to be a force on the defensive side of the ball.

Aside from that, the coach will be looking for several juniors to step up their leadership roles and for a group of young players to adapt to the varsity game quickly.

Plenty of positives

Through the opening two weeks of training camp, the coach has seen plenty of positives as well as plenty of things that still need a lot of work.

“It’s been good and bad,” he said. “We’ve got some seasoned ball players, but I’ve got some real young players too.”

Overall, however, the head coach expects the Cubs to be competitive again this season.

“I think we’re going to be pretty fair,” he said. “As long as we stay healthy.”
Sean Hassall-Hoss will take over from the graduated C.J. Van Meter at quarterback, and while the junior lacks Van Meter’s experience, he brings a different athleticism to the position and will be expected to run the ball more.

Fellow juniors Alex Harding and Riley Gallagher will carry much of the load in the offensive backfield, as well as at DB.

Along the line, juniors Ray Gotcher and John Gamble will start alongside sophomore Caleb Wilks.

Four juniors — Hassall-Hoss, Harding, Gamble and Gotcher — will serve as the team captains.

“We’re looking for the leaders to lead,” Terrell said. 

Nine returners

About half of the team’s 18 players are back from a year ago, when the Cubs were 8-4, including a 3-0 mark on their way to the NCL III championship.

The Cubs lost to Branson in the NCS eight-person championship game.

Among the newcomers, big things are expected out of freshman John Harding, younger brother of Alex, who will see plenty of game time immediately.

“I’m looking for big things out of him,” the head coach said. “He’s picked up everything in the first week of practice.”

Overall, the head coach likes the attitude his players have shown early.

“They’re all good kids, and they don’t give us any problems,” he said.

Friday night’s game is set for 7 p.m.

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.