Caine Said Bees Understand Challenge

Following a 2023 season that saw the program go to the state championship for the first time in school history, the Upperman High football team hopes to continue its success with a lot of new faces.

Under head coach Adam Caine, the Upperman Bees have gone 66-13 since 2018 and have only lost a single district game in his tenure. Caine said that last year’s self proclaimed “revenge tour” added some outside pressure onto the team, but this year he and the team feel free to just play ball.

“We’ve seen what it looks like to get to that level,” Caine said. “We understand the level of play that is required and I think guys are motivated. But no, I have’t felt any pressure.”

This Bees team is full of players that have grown up playing with one another in Baxter’s youth football program the Upperman Stingers. Caine said that while those bonds were formed before his time at Upperman, he gets to reap the reward of a close-knit team.

“I think it’s pretty important and pretty cool,” Caine said. “Anytime you have that sort of bond, I think that it can only help.”

Due to the graduating senior class controlling much of the depth chart last year, Caine said players like lineman Zach Maynard and linebacker Walter Caine will be relied on to play both sides of the ball this season.

“We’re expecting them to not only pick up where they left off, but to be a lot more improved then they were last year,” Caine said. “The big thing we learned over the years is, if you’re not working, then people are catching up with you. And so, we’ve been trying to make sure these kids are working hard and I’ve been encouraged by what I’ve seen in the preseason.”

Caine said the off-season for football can be a drag and that his players are eager to see some real competition in meaningful games. Upperman opens the season up at Fayetteville next Friday.