Newton County Academy football coach Rob Roberts can never be accused of building a week schedule.
In his time at NCA, Roberts has built the Generals into one of AA’s most respected programs, winning the state championship in 2013.
With that comes a higher level of opponents on the schedule. The Generals will face three Class AAA teams this year and a host of playoff teams.
“I just like to see where we stand,” Roberts said. “I just think we should play better teams to get us prepared for the district and the playoffs. If you play good people in your non-conference schedule, your district games are easier.”
The Generals will open the season with Class AAA Winston Academy, a team that beat them 14-0 last year.
“Last year when we played them, neither one of us could get anything going,” Roberts said. They scored late in the second and early in the third. Basically, they had two long plays and that’s how they scored. I know they have a new coach this year so I don’t know what they will try to do. But Winston always has good-looking kids.”
After the trip to Winston, the Generals will open their home schedule with Oak Hill, a team they beat 27-21 last year.
“We had them 27-7 last year and were beating them pretty good,” Roberts said. “I pulled everybody and put in the ninth graders and they scored twice on them. So I had to put the first stringers back in to win that one. I won’t make that mistake again this year.”
Then the Generals will jump right into district play as they travel to rival Sylva-Bay, a game that Roberts requested get moved to earlier in the year.
“It was a good decision to move that game,” Roberts said. “When it’s between us and them, it’s better to play it early so the game means something to both teams. It’s always a tough, physical game with them. I have
heard that they picked up some kids and a have a good running back from Taylorsville so who knows what they will have.”
After Sylva Bay, the Generals will open September with a home contest against Carroll, a team they beat 21-7 last year in a physical contest.
“It was a good game with them last year,” Roberts said. “They were physical and had good-looking kids. I know they have a lot of kids coming back.”
Then on Sept. 14, the Generals travel to Leake Academy to take on the Rebels, who made the Class AAA playoffs last year.
“Like I’ve said in the past, all we can do is line up and play and try not to get anybody hurt,” Roberts said. “It could have been a lot worse last year. I was glad to get out of there when they stopped scoring. It could have been a lot worse than it was.”
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Generals as they host traditional AA power Tri-County Academy, a team that put a 38-7 whipping on them last year.
“They are the top of the line in Class AA right now,” Roberts said. “They are always right there. We will see where we stand as far as AA is concerned. They will let us know where we stand. I know if we can play with them, we can play with anybody in AA.”
After Tri-County, the Generals will take on Alabama foe Tuscaloosa Academy. Roberts added that game after Pickens Academy had to drop their return trip. Last year, the Knights were 8-2 and lost in the second round of the playoffs.
“That’s where we played Pickens last year,” Roberts said. “It’s not much further than Pickens and a little bit easier to get to. I think they are AAA over there and were really strong last year. I think they have everybody coming back. They are playing that first week in Montgomery and I’m going over to see them play.”
The Generals will then get back to district play as they host Ben’s Ford for Senior Night on Oct. 5
“They come to us this year,” Roberts said. “They had a really good group of ninth graders last year. They will be a lot better than they were last year. They had two good young running backs.”
The Generals will then finish out district play on the road at Benton.
“I think they are kind of down right now,” Roberts said. “They don’t have a lot of kids. They have kind of swapped coaches around the last couple of years.”
Then on Oct. 19, the Generals will finish out the regular season at Wayne, a team that beat them 26-7 last year.
“We were going to be the fourth seed either way last year,” Roberts said. “We didn’t have a lot to play for and they put it on us pretty good.”
