Providence Grove linebacker Brady Collins has been a top tackler in the state so far this season. (Courtesy photo)
CLIMAX – The Providence Grove football team began the season coming off an awkward preseason, so the Patriots hope they can benefit from a reset going into Piedmont Athletic Conference play.
With an early August coaching change, the Patriots were making adjustments as the season launched.
“It has been a lot of change,” said Jackson Rhyne, a senior running back and safety. “Nobody was really expecting that (coaching change) at all. It was very sudden. I think we handled it really good. … We’re talented enough to win any game we have. Nothing has changed with that.”
Providence Grove (1-4) tries to shed a four-game losing streak Friday night at Trinity.
With David Hayes resigning from his coaching position after the start of preseason practices, Providence Grove turned to longtime assistant coach Mark Heilig as interim coach.
Players said it’s stabilizing with someone familiar in charge. Heilig is the team’s third head coach in three seasons.
After defeating East Davidson in the opener, the Patriots lost their next three games by a total of 16 points. Then came a 17-0 setback at Ledford before a week off.
“We’ve done some really good things,” Heilig said. “We’ve done some not good things at times. We can’t quite get over the hump for some reason.”
Yet an encouraging tone is coming from the Patriots.
“We did get off to a rough start,” said senior fullback / linebacker Brady Collins, a three-year starter. “Most of those games were winnable.”
Providence Grove’s defense has been steady and at times spectacular.
“That part of the plan has gone pretty good,” Heilig said. “The offense has to catch up.”
That’s clear to observers. The Patriots aren’t trying to be flashy with the ball, just efficient.
“We rely on consistent yards, not big gains,” Rhyne said. “We need to run our offense correctly and eliminate penalties. Our defense has been keeping us in our games. We knew our defense had to be solid.”
There were changes with some offensive schemes. The Patriots are expecting low-scoring games.
“We do hang our hat on our defense a lot,” Collins said.
He’s a big reason for that coming off the 2023 season as the Patriots’ top tackler. Through the first five weeks of this season, Collins led the state with 77 tackles.
“It’s pretty neat and I’d like to keep up with that,” he said.
Last week without a game, the Patriots visited a college team’s practice at Elon one afternoon. Heilig said that change of pace gave his team a different perspective and experience.
“It’s still football-related, so that’s good for us,” he said.
The PAC path ahead won’t be easy. Two teams – Eastern Randolph and Randleman – in the league are unbeaten. The Patriots want to be clustered with the elite teams.
“We’re looking to prove that we are one of them,” Collins said. “We’re looking forward to turning our season around.”
Providence Grove probably needs at least three victories in PAC play to gain a Class 2-A spot in the state playoffs. Heilig said the team has addressed goals for the remainder of the season.
“For what they’ve been through, if we could make it (to the playoffs), that would be a big boost for them,” Heilig said.
For now, there are short-term objectives.
“We just need to win that next one,” Rhyne said.
