SPARTA: New coach brings new attitude to Warriors

SPARTA -- Phil Watson must love a challenge.

In 2001, Watson started the football program at Wesclin and in 2004-06 led the Warriors to a 22-9 record and three straight playoff appearances.

Watson then moved on to the challenge of coaching in the big-school atmosphere of Centralia in where the Orphans program continued to struggle --losing all 18 games in Watson's two years.

In 2009, Watson returns to his small-school roots as he faces a major challenge in trying to turn around a Sparta football program that hasn't made the playoffs since 1992.

"Why Sparta? When I left Wesclin, I thought I would take on the challenge of Centralia -- a big school. But I didn't like it as much,'' Watson said. "I wanted to get back into small ball again. That is why with Sparta I thought it would be a perfect fit.''

"I like the small-school mentality and by that I mean getting a core group of kids and being able to get close with them and being able to get the most out of them athletically, physically and mentally as you can. I think its easier to do that in a smaller school environment.''

Sparta, which opens its season tonight at Columbia, finished just 1-8 a year ago. Playing in the River-to-River Conference against perennial state title contenders DuQuoin and Anna-Jonesboro and other strong teams, it may take time for Watson to make an impact.

But the first-year coach likes what he sees in the preseason.

"I've been very happy with the kids and their response to our summer program,'' Watson said. "We had 37 kids at our varsity camp and 18 kids at the freshmen camp so we had very good participation that way.''

Watson does have some good athletes who return for his first year at the helm.

On offense, senior Blake Shelton (6-1, 190) will be the starting quarterback while lightning-quick Preston Nance (5-10, 180) returns at running back and should be one of the best in the league.

Senior Cory Hale (6-4, 285) will anchor the offensive line while Shelton will have excellent targets in senior David Sams (5-8, 170) and junior Jeremy Pickett (5-8, 155) of which to throw the football.

Junior running backs Josh Reese (5-7, 155), Zach Ferguson (5-7, 165) and Ethan Renner (5-8, 165) are all expected to help out in the Bulldogs' backfield.

Watson said five to seven players will probably be asked to play on both sides of the football.

"We don't have a lot of depth on the offensive and defensive lines and that concerns me. But I feel like if I asked one of the fullbacks to play guard, they would. This is a very good, unselfish group of kids."

Watson said one his biggest challenges is teaching the Bulldogs how to win and to finish.

"I've watched several tapes from last year and it seemed like they were in most of the games until the middle or late in third quarter. Then, whether it would be a lack of conditioning, a lack of focus or just having a couple of things go against them, the kids just struggled down the stretch of games.

"I see part of my job being not only being able to teach these kids how to win, but also how to finish games.''