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By Tim Morse

ALBANY — Sherwood Christian Academy football coach Chad Evans isn’t discouraged by last year’s winless season in his first year.

He’s optimistic, and if you didn’t know about the Eagles’ tough season in 2015, you might believe that Evans was coming off a deep postseason run. And while Evans wants Sherwood football to win as much as anybody, he’s excited about where the program is headed.

“I believe we’ve created an atmosphere that kids want to be a part of,” Evans said. “These kids understand who we are, and we are not just about the win-column and the scoreboard. It’s about the kids and us investing. That’s the thing they want to be a part of.”

While coaching goes beyond the game for Evans and his staff, he’s also excited about the product the school should put on the field.

Last season, Evans started with 13 players, and times were so tough that it was hard to hold an official scrimmage. But that number has grown and while 20 may not seem like a lot to most programs, Evans is excited.

“The program is growing and the kids are excited,” he said. “The attitude is different. One thing we have been pushing athletically is culture change. That is work ethic, attitude and everything in between. And the kids have responded well.”

Unlike in past seasons, when Sherwood Christian had to rely heavily on transfers in order to field a team, most of the Eagle players have grown up in the program.

Sherwood will still be very young this season, as the team features just one senior. And like most private schools, the majority of the team will have to play on both sides of the ball.

“We’re going to be incredibly young, but that bodes well for next year and years to come,” Evans said. “It’s a lot like starting the program from scratch and building from the ground up. We’re starting to see the benefits from this.”

Sherwood, which joined the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA) two years ago, will be dropping a classification this year and competing in Division I-A.

After playing in a region that consisted of much larger schools such as Calvary Christian, Covenant and Creekside Christian, the Eagles will play in a region against schools closer in size. They will still play Calvary, Creekside and Covenant in nonregion games.

“That’s going to help tremendously,” Evans said. “Everything is going to be on an even playing field.”

Sherwood will play just eight games this season after one school they had scheduled decided to close. But Evans is happy with the team’s direction.

“If we never win a game and the kids turn out to be Godly leaders in the home, it’s a win-win for us,” he said. “The mentality is different here than most. Being able to mentor and invest in kids is a big part of what we’re doing.”

And winning football games is a bonus.

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SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN EAGLES

• REGION: GICAA Division I

• 2015 RECORD: 0-9

• COACH: Chad Evans (2nd season)

• RETURNING STARTERS: QB/WR Blake Shepard (Sr.); RB/DE William Crawford (Jr.); QB/LB Will Alderman (Jr.); RB/LB/DE Landon Cory (So.); OL/DL Wesley Pollock (Jr.); OL/DL James Smith (Jr.)

• TOP NEWCOMERS: WR/ATH Anthony Adams (So.); LB Tyler Hughes (Jr.)

• 2016 SCHEDULE:

Aug. 19 — at Fullington

Aug. 26 — Griffin Christian

Sept. 2 — at Covenant

Sept. 10 — Lanier Christian

Sept. 16 — Life Christian

Sept. 30 — at Creekside

Oct. 21 — at Skipstone

Oct. 28 — Georgia Force