Coach Thomason: Eastside Eagles Will Have to Play Mistake-Free to Beat Christchurch

Last week, Eastside had a “good second half of football,” said Head Football Coach Jeff Thomason at this week’s Greer Touchdown Club meeting.

Eastside beat Riverside 13-12. 

“First half didn’t go like we wanted it to,” Thomason said. “We talked a lot about our missed opportunities and what we should have done in the first half. Phil (Smith) last week, said something about my son being one of the good receivers, and he drops three balls in the first half. I get on to him  - then he had to pass by Mama going back on to the field, and Mama lit into him as well.”

For the past two years, Thomason, his staff and his team have been talking about “learning how to win,” he said.

“Learning how to do things that’s going to win,” he said. “We came out in the second half, it was a great job by our guys in the second half of adjusting and not losing their focus and doing what they’re supposed to do and not missing opportunities when we had them. 

“Great job in coming from behind for our guys,” Thomason said. “That’s something we haven’t done in forever, mostly because we’ve been behind by 35 to 40 points.  Great job this week. Great practices this week. We’ve had a great, upbeat week of practice and our guys are focused.”

To win against Christchurch this week, the Eagles will have to play “mistake free,” Thomason said.

“Great coached school, great coached team,” Thomason said. “They’re going to be fundamentally sound. They’re going to come after you.  They’re going to pin their ears back defensively and come after you and we know we’ll have to be ready for that. I hope we’re going to have a good showing.  We know we have to take care of business on our side of the ball and get after them.”