Hughes, Monterey Prep For Forrest

The Monterey Wildcats start the 2024 Football Playoffs on the road, with a trip to Chapel Hill Friday to take on the Forrest Rockets.

The Wildcats reeled off five straight wins, outscoring their opponents 187-13. Head Coach Scott Hughes said that with potentially five more games to be played, the team has bought into playing for each other and keeping their season alive for the senior leaders.

“The mantra then, is how are we trying to earn five more days,” Hughes said. “For our seniors and for this football team, the football team of 2024, we’re pursuing just five extra days. Because now nothing is guaranteed to us.”

At the midway point of the season, the Wildcats were 2-3 and Hughes said many players were banged up and not at 100 percent. He said the mid-season turnaround to earn a spot in the post-season exemplifies the spirit of the Wildcats.

“Overall, I just feel like we’ve just grown tremendously,” Hughes said. “And I think it comes back to the way our guys are preparing. We went in and we changed some things that we were doing. We changed some preparations and the way we were practicing. And for whatever reason the lord has blessed us and we’ve been playing at a different level.”

With the Forrest Rockets on the menu for Friday, Hughes said this team has talent at every level and every position group. He said the Rockets’ quarterback and running back will be one of the more dangerous backfields the Wildcats will face all year.

Hughes said the prospect of playing playoff football on the road has his players excited. Forrest went 4-1 at home in the regular season, Hughes noted that his team must mentally prepare for a loud, rowdy away crowd.

“They are really good at home,” Hughes said. “When you watch it on film, it’s a huge environment, a lot of energy and it’s an electric atmosphere. The student section is big and you can see them down in the end-zone and we’ve been warned about some things that go on down there. We’ve already conditioned our guys and hopefully they handle it very maturely.”

Monterey versus Forrest, kickoff at 7pm in Chapel Hill.