August 22, 2011

The Nelson County football team has combined for just 6 wins over the last three seasons and are aiming for their first winning season since 2002. The Governors look to improve from a 1-9 mark a year ago, but will do it with just 28 varsity players.

"You just gotta have heart, that's all you gotta have if you don't have a lot of players. If you get hurt, get right back in there."

Third year coach and Nelson graduate Mark Wells has placed the preseason focus on defense after holding just two teams to less than 40 points a year ago.

"Scoring wasn't a problem for us but we just couldn't stop anybody," Coach Wells said.

So he and the coaching staff decided to use a Nebraska technique known as the black shirt defense.

"It's a tough defense, you have to earn it to keep it. It's one of those ways to have competition every day and make defense a better part of this program."

Players must earn the right each week to wear the black practice jerseys designated for the first team squad and read, 'TIC TIC TIC'.

"So it's tic, tic, tic...and the rest is boom. You have to lay the boom on somebody, said senior Rodrell Smith.

Nelson will open the year at home with William Monroe on Friday August 26.