Walking back into War Eagle Stadium for the first time for the 2026 season, the environment is electric. Fans cheer as the War Eagles run onto the field for their season opener against the West Forsyth Titans. Despite a final score of 8-42, with the Titans emerging triumphant, the excitement and hope for the season is not gone.
Friday’s opening match-up marked the debut of head football coach Bryan Hinson after accepting the head coaching position earlier this year. Hinson enters his first year at Davie following a successful stint at Salisbury High School from 2017 to 2023, where he guided the Hornets to a state championship in 2021.
Going into this year, Coach Hinson is focusing his efforts on two areas: intense and physical practice, and a competitive environment. The idea that practice would be easy was removed from the team this year, implementing the mentality that practices will be hard so the games are easy. Senior Right Guard Maddox Creason appreciates Hinson’s new ideals and what they are bringing to the team.
“Coach Hinson is a great coach and has truly been great for this team.” Creason shares. “You can tell he cares about his players and cares about this program. He brought physicality and aggression to Davie Football, and I think it’s been amazing.”
After the West game, War Eagle Football returned to the practice field to prepare for the next game against the West Rowan Falcons. Coach Hinson continued his regimen of hard work for practice. Most players had individual goals along with the team goal. The energy became intense, every player focusing on the drills and finding their mistakes in film. For senior inside linebacker Luke Wayne, practice has been the route to redemption.
“My goal to improve in the next game from the West game is to show up more prepared and to trust myself and trust my teammates around me,” shares Wayne. “We will all do our responsibilities to come out with the win.”
“Crazies” Bring the Energy
The energy of football games isn’t just found in the determination of the players on the field, but the excitement in the stands. A constant sight at Davie Football games is the Davie Crazies, the student section. Dressing up in a different theme every week, cheering on the team. Senior Leader Bailey Aderhold is determined to up the energy this year.
“My goal for the environment and energy of the Crazies this year is to make it louder, more unified, and more fun than ever.” Aderhold shares. “I want every student to feel like they’re part of something bigger when they step into the student section. I want us to bring constant energy. whether we’re up by 20 or fighting for a comeback—so our players feel our support the whole game. Most of all, I want to create an environment where people are proud to be a Davie Crazy and can’t wait to show up every Friday night.”
Though the season didn’t start the way Davie County had hoped, the team and fans are determined to keep the positive energy throughout the season. On Friday, August 29, the Davie War Eagles will play the West Rowan Titans at West Rowan.
