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Schools

Season Preview: University City Hoping to Rally Behind New Coach

New Lions head coach Carl Reed hopes he can guide his team toward improvement after a 1-9 season in 2010.

New University City has simple and straightforward goals for the 2011 campaign.

“We want to try and be competitive in every game,” Reed said.

Reed, 30, has solid roots in St. Louis-area football, as he played for Hazelwood Central. After graduating from high school in 1999, Reed continued his career with Austin Peay State University, a Division I school in Clarksville, Tenn.

Reed was hired late in March to replace Rob Battle, who coached the Lions to a very disappointing 1-9 record in 2010.

Battle was preceded by Duane Hawthorne, who led the Lions to four solid seasons from 2006-2009. Hawthorne, who led U. City to a 6-6 mark in 2009, is currently preparing for his first season at Hazelwood West.

Reed started his coaching career in Tennessee with assistant coaching assignments at Northeast High School in Clarksville and then at Maplewood High in Nashville. He considers himself to be a very fundamental type of football coach.

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“Football is about blocking and tackling, and keeping the ball and not turning it over,” Reed said. “That’s all there is to it.”

Like the other high schools in the area, University City started practice on Aug. 8.

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“The kids are working hard and doing what we ask of them,” he said. “They’re excited about this season.”

Reed said the coaching staff and team will take the upcoming season “one day at a time” and “let the chips fall where they may.”  

Reed said DeAndre Williams, now a four-year Lions veteran and a starter last year, will play quarterback this fall. Reed calls Williams “a great athlete and a great leader.” Williams said his time with the Lions’ program has been defined by “hard work.”

“My expectations are to work hard and to go deeper into the playoffs,” Williams said. “We have a dedicated coaching staff and a dedicated group of players.”

Williams recalled how the Lions qualified for sectionals during his sophomore year.

Davante Washington, Demarco Harvey and Jamour Kaid are currently competing for time at the running back position.

“They all work hard and bring something to the program,” Reed said of his aspiring running backs.

Mario Wallace and Tony Newman are competing for time at wide receiver and Ronald Perkins, Marcus Jones, and Adrian Mink will most likely earn some time on the offensive line. Reed said that Wallace and Newman “look OK” and the offensive line hopefuls “look solid” and can “run and block.”

Reed said the Lions’ defense is well-balanced and that Perkins, Jones and Mink will also play on the defensive line. Washington will play safety and Demarco Smith and Shawn Colby will most likely play linebacker.

“We have a good group of kids who are tackling well,” Reed said on the Lions defense.

Reed expects the Suburban South Conference to be competitive this year.

“This is always a tough league,” he said. “Every since I was a kid it’s been tough. Webster Groves and Kirkwood are ahead of everyone else and we have to learn to catch up.”

The Lions will start their season at 4:15 p.m. on Friday with a non-conference home contest against Parkway West.

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