Pickering Red Devils

It's the dawn of a new era at Pickering High School as John Daugherty takes over a struggling football program that has finished the past two seasons winless.

A former defensive coordinator and strength coach at multiple championship programs, Daugherty enters his first season as a head coach but has made an immediate impact in his short time in Pickering. A new-and-improved weight program was installed in January which saw an immediate impact as four football players advanced to the state powerlifting meet.

Daugherty expects his team to be more disciplined on both sides of the ball as well as more physical than in years past. Thanks to an influx of new talent entering the program, Pickering will start over fresh but it comes with a price. The Red Devils return just eight total starters from 2022 but that doesn't scare Daugherty.

"Expect a different team, as many players from last year chose not to participate in the new program," said Daugherty. "With that, others will have an opportunity to perform and look to make their mark this season.

Offensively, the line will return three solid returners up front while the skill positions will be filled with a flurry of sophomores and other underclassmen. On the defensive side, only four starters make their return, including those who will make the start on the offensive line.

"Many starters will be young and inexperienced but hungry to get on the field," said Daugherty. "Building an identity with consistency is the blueprint for 2023."

Pickering's non-district slate includes games at Elton (Sept. 1), East Beauregard (Sept. 8), at Grand Lake (Sept. 14), Welsh (Sept. 22), at Lake Arthur (Sept. 29) and South Beauregard (Oct. 27).