Clinton Dark Horse football is well on its way to getting ready for the upcoming 2018 season. The prep for them has begun early, like most teams in the county, with summer workouts.

For the Horses, they take to the field bright and early before the summer heat beats down to hard. Starting at 7:15 a.m. and running until 10 a.m., they’re hitting it hard. They are not taking their summer workouts lightly by only doing it once or twice a week. For Clinton they are at it four days a week, Monday through Thursday.

Varsity and returners are not the only ones on the field either as rising Dark Horse ninth graders are a part of the summer workouts, going Monday through Wednesday.

While summer workouts have been going for a little while now that doesn’t mean it’s too late to take part in the training or becoming a part of the team. New head coach Cory Johnson said that anyone interested in participating in the workouts are still welcome to come out and take part. All you need is to be eligible.

“I just want to put the word out that our summer workouts are going on and anybody is welcome to come out and be a part of it with us,” said Johnson. “All you need to do is be eligible to play, which means you need to have good grades, a physical and be allowed to play for the Dark Horses.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a returner, a freshman or just interested in what it’ll be like to play for Horses. Even if you have little to no football experience, it doesn’t matter to us. I just really want to let the kids know that are serious about working toward being a Dark Horses that they are more than welcome to come out to our summer workouts.”

There are 25-plus players, not including the ninth graders, who have already been hard at work and showing great signs of improvement, according to Johnson, especially with the implementation of a new offense.

“I’ll say one thing for sure about the guys I have out here now, and that’s the fact that I’m already proud of them. They are working hard every day and are steadily improving. They are picking up and learning the new offense well and the defense is coming along nicely too,” said Johnson.

Clinton is doing what’s needed to be ready for it’s second year in the new 2A East Central Conference. Their first test under coach Johnson will here before too long when they battle at Cape Fear in the season opener on Aug. 17.

The Dark Horses walk through some of their keys and roles on defense during ongoing summer workouts.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_DSC_0851.jpgThe Dark Horses walk through some of their keys and roles on defense during ongoing summer workouts.
New coach Johnson extends invite to all interested

By Michael Hardison

Sports Editor

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