By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

These days, fifth-year Sand Rock head football coach Alan Heath is channeling his inner Rocky Balboa. Heath wants to see if this year’s Wildcats can get up after being knocked down and keep moving forward, like Rocky did in the movies.

Cue the Vince DiCola music montage.

“We have been so discouraged in our attitude that when something negative happened we didn’t have the mental toughness to rebound from it,” Heath said. “It’s like the Rocky quote, it’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up and keep moving forward. That’s what we’ve got to do. I really feel like we’re moving in that direction.”

Last year the Wildcats had 14 freshmen and an eighth grader to take lumps against teams who had more experience than they did. The injury bug also bit, which resulted in a 2-8 record.

But now, Heath feels Sand Rock has experience on its side. The Wildcats have eight seniors, four juniors, 14 sophomores and 11 freshmen this season.

Coupled with the Wildcats’ improvements in the weight room, Heath is beginning to see the dividends.

“I hope all the experiences we’ve had – positive and negative – helps us to execute when the opportunity presents itself,” he said. “This has been one of the most enjoyable groups of kids to coach. These are kids now who I’ve had their entire career. A lot of times I don’t have to tell them how to do things. For the most part they understand the level we expect things to be performed at, and it shows. So far our practices have been really good. I’ve been really happy. The kids’ attitudes are great. I’m real excited.”

One of those young kids who got thrown into the fire last season was quarterback Alec Ashley. He delivered by throwing for over 1,200 yards.

Now a sophomore, Ashley has “really improved a whole lot on his reads, his accuracy, his understanding of the game, and his strength,” Heath said. “He’s one of the hardest workers in the weight room.”

“There was a stretch (at a recent practice) where he went 10 for 10 with the defense out there,” Heath said. “When he’s on, he’s on. I’ve just got to make sure if he makes a mistake that it doesn’t bring him down.”

The playmakers Ashley has on offense should help grow his confidence. In the backfield, sophomore Kane Robison returns after running for over 600 yards in six games last season. He was a guard in the Wildcats’ other four contests before making the move to fullback.

“My goal this year is to try and get as many yards as I can. I’ve got a good line in front of me,” Robison said. “I want to do some winning this year. That’s the main thing I’m really looking forward to.”

Robison also doubles as a linebacker on defense.

Another returning key contributor to the Wildcat offense is senior Gatlin Cox, who will see playing time at halfback, receiver, outside linebacker and punter.

“He’s my utility player,” Heath said. “He can do just about anything I need him to do. We may have some special packages for him.”

With so much expected on him on the field, Cox said he’s up for the challenge.

“I know since this is my last year being a player, I’ve got to give 110 percent every chance I get,” Cox said.

The grandson of Sand Rock hall of fame coach Russell Jacoway, Cox plans on keeping football in his future.

“Next year my goal is to come back and help coach. I want to be able to coach on my granddad’s field. That would be nice,” Cox said.

Cox won’t be the only option the Wildcats have at receiver. Heath said sophomores Brendon Lindsey, Elijah Hood, Ty Traffanstedt, junior Alex Stone will see some time in the receiver rotation.

Blocking for the Wildcat playmakers is a veteran offensive line that features four seniors and a junior. Heath said junior Morgan Tucker returns at center, along with seniors CaidenBullard, Seth Holland and Malachi Fondaw. Senior Gavynn Cunningham lines up at tight end following an ACL injury to senior Cam Gifford.

Heath said a lot of the names on offense will be the same on the defensive side of the ball.

Robison, Cox, Holland, Tucker, junior Grayson Lane and sophomores Jaxson Haynes and Lathan Amos are the Wildcat linebackers. Sophomores Bryson Lindsey and Bradley Stone will also see some playing time on defense.

Traffanstedt, Cunningham, Hood, Alex Stone, Brendan Lindsey, sophomore Nick Clanton and freshman Ryker Woodall will patrol the Wildcat secondary.

Sand Rock competes in a revamped Class 2A Region 7 along with traditional rivals Cedar Bluff, Gaston, Pisgah, North Sand Mountain and Section. Pleasant Valley shifts over from Region 6.

The Wildcats open the season at non-region rival Spring Garden on Thursday, Aug. 22, then host West End of Walnut Grove on Aug. 30. Sand Rock also travels to rival Collinsville on Sept. 27 and hosts Whitesburg Christian in its regular-season finale on Nov. 1.

“I want us to get back to where we’re competitive in every game,” Heath said. “I think if you’re competitive in every game then you have a chance to win every game. That comes down to mindset as much as anything else. I think we do things the right way. I think what we’ve got to do now is make sure our mindset is good. We’ll be successful as a result of that.”

Many of the players feel the same as Heath.

“We have a better team this year,” Holland said. “I think (a successful season) is very accomplishable. I’ve never been past the first round (of the state playoffs). I think that would be a pretty neat experience.”

“We really want to start our season right, have a really good year we can be proud of and not leave anything out on the table,” Bullard said.

2024 Sand Rock Football Schedule

Aug. 22             at Spring Garden

Aug. 30​​             West End

Sept. 6​​               at North Sand Mountain

Sept. 13​              at Section

Sept. 20​             Pleasant Valley

Sept. 27​              at Collinsville

Oct. 4​​                  Pisgah

Oct. 18​​                at Cedar Bluff

Oct. 25​​               Gaston

Nov. 1​​                 Whitesburg Christian