BROOKSVILLE – Chris Hawley joked his goal for Friday night was to get through it and “make sure I lived past about 10 o’clock.”
Hawley is no stranger to the coaching ranks, with a combined 19 years of experience at the high school and college levels. But Nature Coast’s spring classic game against visiting St. Petersburg was his first, albeit unofficial, opportunity as a head coach.
The Sharks made their new man at the helm look pretty good, winning 20-7 in the exhibition contest that went three quarters. The game was reset to start the fourth quarter, which was played by the two JV squads.
“The guys, they were great,” Hawley said. “They did what we’ve been asking them to do, which is do your job. Which is to just focus on you and play. Don’t worry about the outside stuff. Honestly, that takes care of business and they did a good job at that.
“… I think we just played basic, fundamental football and we just kind of let them use what they’ve been using in practice. It wasn’t really anything crazy. We just kind of say, ‘Hey, this is going to be our base stuff. We’re going to run this and we’re going to get you guys everything you need to be able to run it successfully.’ And I think they did a good job with that.”
Hawley was hired back in March, replacing Rob Kazmier, who stepped down after last season following a 6-6 campaign that ended in the Sweet 16. He’s also serving as the offensive playcaller.
“I’d say we’re more disciplined. We know our assignment. We know the objective of the game now,” running back Jasir Harvin said. “Last season, we were just out there playing football. Now we know the job of the game.”
Harvin, who will be a senior in the fall, carried the ball 10 times for 92 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run up the middle in the middle of the third quarter.
“To be honest, I’m not as satisfied. I feel like first quarter was a little bumpy. As you can see, we picked it up later in the game. We had to change up the run game. We were running a lot of power. They were picking up on it,” Harvin said. “The defense did their job today. A lot of picks, a lot of tackles for a loss. We played as a team today.
“… I feel like we’re adapting. But it takes time. It’s only spring. We’ve still got a lot of break. We’ve still got a big summer against us, we’ve still got a big season ahead of us. We’re just going to work as a team, work as a family and just work, work. That’s all it is, work.”
Nature Coast did indeed get off to a rough start, fumbling the ball away on its first two drives. But an interception by Aveion Jackson was returned to the Green Devils’ 5-yard line. Nick Elwin immediately ran up the middle for a touchdown with 3:41 to go in the first quarter.
St. Petersburg tied it up early in the second quarter on a 59-yard touchdown run down by Zy’Quayvion. The Sharks went back in front at 5:43 to go in the half on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Cashis Williams to Timothy Gaynor, who hauled in the catch with one arm in the back left corner of the end zone.
Williams finished 9 of 15 passing for 63 yards, as the senior-to-be takes over under center for the soon-to-graduate Jackson Hoyt.
“Young kids naturally focus on the scoreboard and we’re trying to preach not to,” Hawley said. “Just focus on the play and that was kind of the big thing we wanted to make sure our guys did, and I think they did.
“… We’ve got a really nice staff, guys that are coaching individual stuff. The kids have been consistent. That’s been the biggest thing that I’ve been happy with, is that they’re showing up every day, they’re showing up consistently. They’re communicating when there’s an issue or something. That’s kind of was a big change for them in some ways.”
Now, Hawley and the Sharks will spend the next few months preparing for the regular season. The new coach wasn’t ready to think that far ahead, just relax after a whirlwind few weeks.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow and Sunday. I’m not quite looking at the summer yet,” Hawley said. “I want to go golf this weekend and I want to hang out with my wife and kids. Other than that, I’m not past Sunday.”
