RIVIERA BEACH – The Inlet Grove Hurricanes have been a mediocre football program for some time, but the tide is turning for them in 2018.
Before the 2018 season Inlet Grove only won three games in the last five years. This season has been different, as the Hurricanes have tallied a record of 4-2 Inlet Grove, with wins over Somerset Academy-Canyons, Gateway Charter, Florida Christian, and now Berean Christian.
What has been the change?
For starters the Hurricanes have a new head coach in Robert McKay. That has brought a new culture of winning to the program.
“We’ve definitely made strides in the right direction,” McKay said. “We strive to be 1-0 at the end of every week. The guys are heavily committed.”
McKay would expand on his team’s attitude towards the new culture.
“They wanted change,” McKay said. “The kids are just hungry to learn, more and more. They are stepping up to the plate right now. I’m very proud of them.”
The Hurricanes new attitude and sense of resiliency were on display Thursday evening. They were able to take down Berean Christian 26-13 in a game that originally started in Week 2 but had to be rescheduled due to lightning.
When the game resumed, it was midway through the third quarter and the Hurricanes were up 20-7.
Inlet Grove scored on a pass from quarterback Manphanee Holmes to Michael Alford the in fourth quarter to make it 26-7 after a failed extra point.
Berean would find some life in the fourth as the road team scored on a pass from quarterback Wade Gill to wideout Tyler Christian. It closed the gap down to 26-13 midway through the fourth after a failed extra point.
The Bulldogs kicked and recovered the ensuing onside kick to make a push for a comeback in the fourth. But the Inlet Grove defense was relentless and kept Berean Christian out of the endzone.
Inlet Grove’s offense would get a first down on its last drive and kneel the ball down to run out the clock.
Alford would comment on the team bing able to have the success that they’re having right now.
“We really improved from last year,” Alford said. “We’re showing people that we’re not the same team from last year. It’s a new scheme and new coaching staff.”
Holmes also weighed in on the team’s mindset.
“We’re not going to worry about that 1-9 record,” he said. “We’re just going to keep moving forward from here on out.”
Inlet Grove will be faced with the task of taking on Jupiter Christian in Week 7. Jupiter Christian is undefeated right now at 5-0 and will be heavily favored to take down Inlet Grove in that game.
