MERRY HILL – Last year Lawrence Academy was 2-8.  Head coach Beau Drake left after one season at the helm and he was replaced by a familiar face – the coach who preceded him.

Robert Kravitz – the Warriors’ athletic director and baseball coach – who’s accounted for six straight state championships on the diamond – is back patrolling the rectangular turf after a year’s hiatus.

If baseball success translates to the gridiron then this could be a big year in Merry Hill.

According to FNF-North Carolina magazine the “complete overhaul of the program” shifts to year-two with a veteran bunch looking to improve over last year’s record.

The Warriors return all five starters up front on both sides of the ball, says FNF-NC, and they have consistently worked with younger teammates on fundamentals this off-season.

Senior linebacker Zach Eubanks, a two-year letterman, has drawn interest from several in-state college programs who’s seen the six-foot-two, 325-pounder dominate off the snap in the 8-man ranks.

The team has even adopted a motto: “In the Warrior’s heart there is no surrender. Though his body says stop, his spirit cries never.”

The Warriors will get an early test of that “heart”: opening the season on August 30 at home against the defending Colonial Carolina 8-Man football independent schools state champion: Southampton Academy of Courtland, VA.

Lawrence will follow that game up with another home contest on September 6 against Arendell-Parrott Academy.

The Warriors’ first road game comes the following week at Halifax Academy with a Saturday game on September 14.

Lawrence will then play at rival Northeast Academy on September 20 before returning home on September 27 against Rocky Mount Academy.

October 4 has LAW back on the road, this time at Hobgood Academy before they come back to Merry Hill to play two straight home games against Wake County foes: Cary Christian on October 11 and St. David’s School on October 18.

Lawrence will close the regular-season against always-tough, Word of God Academy in Raleigh on October 25.

The first round of the independent schools 8-man state playoffs will begin on November 1.