News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days: Resurrection Catholic Eagles
In less than 24 hours, the Resurrection Catholic Eagles will be back on the field to kick off their 2022 season at stop number 25 on News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days.
“Waiting since all the way from spring, we’re ready.”
QB/ safety Max Askew said, “Pumped. You wake up at 6:30 every morning in the summer for Friday nights, and so it feels good for it to finally be here.”
Excitement boiling over for Resurrection Catholic led by first-time Head Coach Eric Denmark, now in his 10th year with the football program and his second with the decadent program of the Catholic Church. “Last year, this was unexpected. They were without a head coach, and I said, yeah, I’ll do it with the condition that Scott Sisson come out and help me. Never really wanted to be a head coach, just wanted to be an assistant. And this year, the kids bought into it.”
QB/WR/DB Walker Frederic said, “He’s been there when we got into seventh grade, and he’s always been around for us.”
“You grow up watching the high school play, and Coach Denmark, Coach Sisson, Coach Cannette, and you want to play for them.”
RB/ WR/ DB Daniel Pickens said, “Knowing he was on that state runner-up team, he’s been there. You know he knows what to do and what we’re capable of doing. He’s got what it takes for us to take it all the way.”
It’s been a flight to remember for the Eagles, now riding a streak of eight straight non-losing seasons including that 1A South State championship in 2015.
Nothing out of the ordinary to start the 2021 campaign with an early mark of 4-1 before dropping four out of their last five, including a five-point loss at Richton, ultimately costing them a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. “Definitely the Richton game.”
“That loss against Richton was pretty rough because that was our ticket to the playoffs. We lost that game in the final minute.”
“I mean it feels good to know that we were that close to having it. One play away from making the playoffs, and to come up short kind of fuels you for the next year.”
Resurrection finishing with an overall record of 5-5 and a Region 4 mark of 2-5.
This year the Eagles bring back just about everyone on offense including Walker Frederic and Max Askew, who are both in line to see snaps at quarterback, alongside DJ and Daniel Pickens, who all play key roles on defense as well.
Expectations are high because they give themselves permission to set them high. “It’s their team. We’re going to provide the tools out here. You’ve got to buy into it. Believe it or not, I was very impressed with their work ethics this summer. Telling kids to be there at 6:30 Monday through Thursday in the weight room in the morning. I don’t get onto them. It’s their team. If they want to be successful, they’re going to put in the work and do it.”
Coach Denmark says his team’s best attendance mark over the summer was 33 out of 38 varsity players. Pretty safe to assume that includes most, if not all, of Resurrection’s eight seniors who strive to uphold the motto of brotherhood on the eve of their last ride together. “Just go out, play every play hard, play every play like it’s your last, just go out there and give it your all.”
“Enjoy every minute of it. We don’t get it for much longer, so enjoy every sprint, every practice, everything you can. Win it all, why not?”
RCS opens up against St. Patrick tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Gautier High School.
The final coach’s picks of 25 in 25, Eric Denmark is going with a repeat from Lewis Sims, Bozo’s Seafood, and then a bonus with Brady’s Steaks and Seafood. His favorite all-time sports moment was playing left tackle in the 1983 Egg Bowl game AKA the Immaculate Deflection, and then his sports hero is former teammate Tommy Moffitt.
A quick update on the Resurrection Catholic River Run. It’s still being held Saturday, but moving to the Horn Island Grill in Gautier due to high water and unsafe river conditions. RCS still putting on food, music, raffles, door prizes, and more. The event starts at 2 p.m. with drawings for winners at 5 p.m.
