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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

New Davie football coach Brian Hinson has been working diligently since February to reshape the War Eagles on the heels of their 3-7 season in 2024, and he’s encouraged by what he’s seen in the weight room and at workouts.
“I think it’s been going well,” he said. “I think the kids are starting to see change, some different expectations, some different ways of doing things, and stuff like that. I think they are enjoying that. We’re about halfway through skill development. That is a prelude to our spring ball. The biggest thing we’re trying to do right now is install what we’re going to be doing offensively and defensively. That’s going to be a bunch of new terminology. That’s not just for the kids; that’s for the coaches as well. You’ve got coaches coming from different places. We’re trying to get everybody on the same page with that.”
The War Eagles began spring practice May 6. They will practice 10 days over three weeks.
“We’re trying to figure out where the kids can help us the most,” Hinson said. “I want kids to play multiple sports. We’ve got some kids who are in track, baseball, lacrosse, and we’re still recruiting the hallways. I’ve talked to other coaches about the numbers that have been in the weight room. As a coach, you always want more. But when previous staff members are there and they’re excited about the participation numbers and what’s going on, that makes you feel better.”
When Hinson replaced Tim Devericks as head coach, one of the most important items on his long to-do list was to revamp the coaching staff. He has all but moved mountains to assemble six defensive assistants and three men on offense (four if you count Hinson).
“I’ve got a couple I’m trying to add,” he said. “I could take one or two more and be done or I could be done now. We’re waiting on teaching positions within the school system. We’re in a good spot right now, but I’d like to add two more on offense.”
On defense, there’s holdovers Terrell Wilson (DL), Randy Athey (DL), Todd Bumgarner (OLB) and Blaine Nicholson (DB). Mike Herndon, who coached here under Doug Illing from 1998-2011, is back at linebackers, as well as defensive coordinator. A Davie newcomer is Porter McCravion, who “played for me back in the day,” Hinson said.
Jimmie Welch coached Davie’s offensive line for many years, and after taking a couple years off, he’s back in the trenches. Mike Lovelace is another familiar face who’s back. He was an assistant under Benjie Brown/Illing from 1996-2002, and he will coach receivers. The offense has two newcomers to Davie. One is quarterbacks coach Joe Burchette, who was a record-setting QB for Appalachian State from 1999-2002. Another is Mark Weycker, who guided West Iredell for 26 years (1987-2012).
Hinson raved about the grizzly veteran.
“Mark has coached with me in the past,” he said. “He’s probably forgotten more football than some of us have learned. His position has yet to be determined. He’s been kind of working with the (running) backs, but we may end up moving him around a little bit because he’s got a wealth of knowledge. He’s our Swiss Army knife on offense. He’s going to help us out quite a bit.”
Due to realignment and the change from four classifications to eight, the schedule looks completely different. Davie will host its blood rival, West Forsyth, right off the bat. The Titans have won 26 of 42 meetings, including three straight, but the 43rd matchup will mark the first nonconference game between Davie and West since 1967.
“They wanted to play us, and everybody wants to keep that tradition and keep that rivalry going,” Hinson said.
In another home nonconference game, Davie will meet Pinecrest for the first time in its 70-year history.
“I know coach (Nick) Eddins at Pinecrest,” Hinson said. “He used to be the head coach at West Montgomery back in the day, and Montgomery County is where I’m from. I got to know him in my recruiting ties with Catawba. He runs a great program. I figured it would be a good game for us.”
Davie has two players who have received Division-I offers. Rising junior linebacker Elijah Chaffin has offers from Appalachian State and Marshall, and rising senior receiver Ethan Driver recently received his first offer from Gardner-Webb.
“When colleges start coming in and they put eyes on Ethan to see the frame that he has, the height, there’s going to be more colleges coming through soon,” he said. “He ran in the 4.5s at a laser time. That’s pretty impressive at a laser time.”