Players of the Davie County High School Junior Varsity Football team come to either a practice or a game with a shared goal: “to go 9-1,” running back Cam Holland says. Whether it’s been a long day at school or they’re having problems at home or difficulties with the team—no matter what it is—they give 100% of their effort and leave everything on the field. Head coach Brian Hinson describes himself as fortunate to have worked with this young team.
“I think they enjoy playing football, they compete at a high level, and they’re fun to watch,” Hinson says. “And when you go to practice, I think they enjoy practice. I think that’s the biggest challenge sometimes, getting kids who just enjoy practice. And I think they like to go out there and compete against each other and help each other get better.”
Playing on JV can earn athletes the opportunity to watch varsity from the sidelines or even take the field themselves. That takes effort, consistency, and never giving up on the ball. One of the ways several players have proven themselves to coaches is not just by showing out at games but also by showing out at practice.
“If you don’t practice good, I mean, they’re not going to expect you to do good in the games,” offensive guard Cam Gioeli says.
That effort has paid off against tough opponents. One of the team’s hardest battles was against rival West Forsyth, where having good chemistry with everyone came in clutch.
“We didn’t give up that whole game, and we played the whole game with our hearts, and we didn’t give up, and we came out victorious,” Holland says. “One thing I can say about our team. We know how to communicate. So whenever something’s going wrong, we know how to fix it.”
Despite their effort, JV players often face the label that they’re not “good enough” to play on varsity, cornerback Mason Driver says. Truly, the team represents the younger division of the program and what the upcoming seasons can evolve into. Often, the label also affects the attention the team receives.
“It would be fun to see them get some more fans in the stands to watch it, just because I think they deserve it,” Hinson says.
This year’s team is loaded with talent and features players who have a significant impact on the game’s outcome. Hinson says it all starts with the running back, which is Cam Holland. He has contributed most of the team’s points, but could obviously not do this all by himself.
“Our defense on JV has been awesome this year and kept us in a lot of close games and given us the opportunity to win the games,” Hinson says.
Most players aspire to play varsity in the future, and for some, that has come sooner than many would have assumed. On October 3, at the North Iredell game, JV players Holland, Driver, Gioeli, and more showed the previous night that they were ready to play under the “Friday Night Lights.”
“We’ve been coming out, firing out like cylinders,” Holland says.
The JV football experience is a crucial stepping stone for players. It helps them grow, face challenges, and build the skills they need for varsity.
“They’re really fun to watch because I think they play hard and they compete, they get after it, and I think they’re just having fun,” Hinson says.
Their dedication and hard work reflect the program’s future success.
