Dukes learning key gridiron lessons
Published 1:29 pm Friday, October 18, 2024
Luke Patterson and Tiffany Carr smile for a photo Friday evening, Oct. 11, shortly after having been crowned the 2024 Windsor High School Homecoming King and Queen. (Submitted | Dawn Carroll)
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Windsor High School’s varsity football team was not able to finish its homecoming game the way it wanted to Friday night, Oct. 11, but the Dukes still created highlights and ignited hope for the future of the program amid the other homecoming festivities that weekend.
The WHS Homecoming Parade took place on streets bordering the school at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the theme “The Roaring Dukes Paint the Town Blue.” Luke Patterson and Tiffany Carr were crowned homecoming king and queen at halftime of the Dukes’ game.
The game itself pitted Windsor against Sussex Central High School, and the Dukes took a 12-8 lead into halftime.
Windsor Head Coach Benjamin DuBois indicated that the game illustrated the importance of learning to maintain and win.
“We are predominantly a young team and losing anyone, making mistakes and not having the same effort at the end catches up to us,” he said. “Especially the last few weeks.”
Sussex Central was able to score 22 unanswered points in the second half Friday to pull away for a 30-12 win.
“We have learned to play defense, we have learned to come out fast on the scoreboard, and we have learned to keep fighting, and now we just have to keep pushing to finish the same way,” DuBois said.
The coach highlighted several of his players who stood out Friday.
“Jeremy King gets better and better every week as he gets more comfortable and familiar with the kids on the team,” DuBois said of his junior quarterback. “I am hoping next year it happens earlier, but it’s going to be nice to see how he finishes this year. Fleetwood Turner has had some great games the past few weeks, and Hudson Williams and Logan Powell are our utility guys that can do it all.”
DuBois noted that Windsor’s offensive line is full of freshmen, sophomores and one junior.
“So it will be fun to continue seeing them grow,” he said.
Dukes junior tailback and team captain Cage DeBruyne was able to take the field for an inspirational exhibition play right after halftime began.
DeBruyne navigates via wheelchair due to having cerebral palsy, and while this prevents him from contributing to the team in some conventional ways, he has proven a key contributor in others, like dedication, work ethic and leadership. After giving DeBruyne the opportunity to join the team, DuBois was impressed by Cage’s faithfulness to attending and participating in workouts, practices and scrimmages and also by his overall investment in the program, which earned him his team captain status.
When DeBruyne was able to take the field for an exhibition play Friday, he scored, with support from Sussex Central.
“The Cage halftime score was more than I expected, as Sussex kids did it great without us telling them,” DuBois said. “Not sure what their coach said to them, but I had to thank him for that afterwards.”
The Dukes (1-6) were set to visit Surry County High School (2-5) on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.
Reflecting on Windsor’s season seven games in, DuBois said, “We had some injuries and some other circumstances that have kept us from being full strength this year, and with a team this size, we cannot afford too many.”
However, across both the varsity and junior varsity teams, the program is expanding.
“Last year we had 30-plus kids, and this year we have almost 50-plus, so I hope that maintains or grows,” DuBois said. “I think the Windsor Dukes are growing, and the future looks bright as long as we maintain our discipline, commitment and effort.”
