WEST VERSUS SOUTH: Frasher returns to face old team
by Jeremy Moorhouse The Stokes News
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Jonathan Frasher talks to South Stokes players in this file photo.
Jonathan Frasher, an assistant coach at West the last five years, will make his first trip back to Wildcat Stadium since taking the head football coaching job at South Stokes this summer.
Heading into the contest, West is 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference. The Sauras are 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the league.
Frasher insists there’s no additional motivation to beat the Wildcats.
“I don’t want to sound cliche, but you want to win them all. I don’t want to win this one any more than I wanted to win last week,” Frasher said. “At the same time, the difference is you look out there and you know the kids, you know the coaches. It’s going to be different standing on visitors sideline. That’s the only difference.
“It’s going to be an emotional time for me. I’ve been with most of those kids since sixth grade because I taught at (Chestnut Grove) Middle School. You don’t form bonds like that without it being emotional ... some of the best basketball games I’ve played were pickup games with best friends. You are going against kids you’ve known for five or six years ... it’s been fun.”
Even though the Sauras are 1-7, the attitude has changed this season and South has shown dramatic improvement on the field. At this stage of the season last year, the Sauras were averaging 6.3 points per game - which is up to 18.1 this season.
Because of the busy football schedue, Frasher said he really hasn’t run into too many folks in the West Stokes community since he left for South.
“When you are at a school for five years, you build relationships there you hope will last a lifetime. I’ll always have friendships there,” said Frasher, who lives in Pinnacle. “At the same time South Stokes is just an awesome place. I’m very fortunate to be there. They’ve welcomed me with open arms. Football season I haven’t had time to do anything. It feels like I’ve been in Walnut Cove all football season. I run into some people from time to time.”
West head coach Jimmy Upchurch offered Frasher a job on the Wildcats coaching staff in 2005.
Frasher said he’s talked with Upchurch three or four times this season.
“We talk from time to time,” Frasher said. “It’s tough during football season. There’s not a whole lot of time. Of course, you spend five years with somebody and talk a lot about football, you get to know each other pretty well.
“He’s a hard worker and he puts a lot of hours in. He watches a lot of film. He prepares very hard to get kids in best position possible.”
Not since 2002 has South Stokes beaten West Stokes.
Frasher said as far as getting up for this game, the view from the Sauras sideline is not much different.
“In-county rivalries are in county rivalries,” he said. “At the beginning of rivalry, South Stokes had upper hand. The last several years West has had upper hand. I hope to think we have the opportunity to get the upper hand next few years. We’ll see what happens ... our kids get fired up for them just like they get fired up for us.”
Frasher continued: "We need to be able to control the ball and keep their offense off the field. And not turn the ball over,” he said. “Their offense is very explosive. Big time receivers, a big time quarterback and their running backs look good. They fly to the ball defensively.
“The key to winning the game is to control the football and cut down on mistakes and penalties, the sign of a young team.”
Upchurch will see several familiar faces in addition to Frasher on the visitor’s sideline Friday - Stephen Morgan, Chad Amos and Ray Grant, all former coaches at either West Stokes or Chestnut Grove.
“It will be really strange to see them on the opposite side of the field,” Upchurch said. “I’m happy for Coach Frasher to have the head coaching job. Obviously they’ve made strides.”
Upchurch and Frasher go back to 1999, when Frasher took a coaching job at Surry Central, the same year Upchurch left for East Surry.
Earlier this season, West Stokes got a rare victory against East Surry and head coach David Diamont.
Upchurch certainly wishes Frasher the best, but not at his expense.
“When I first came to West Stokes I didn’t know any coaches at South Stokes,” Upchurch said. “Now that Jonathan and the other South Stokes coaches are there, I’ve got the fear factor of my assistant coach, if he comes back and beats me. I told the kids, I know how coach Diamont feels. I certainly don’t want to experience that.”
It took a few years after Upchurch arrived before the Wildcats began to turn the corner.
Competing in the Central Carolina 2A Conference, West went 3-8 overall and 1-7 in the conference in his first season and played at or around .500 the next four seasons.
In 2008 and 2009, West has gone 9-4 and 8-5 - winning first round state playoff games both years.
Upchurch said he told Frasher to keep his head up.
“I called him after the Bishop McGuinness game (a 48-9 Sauras loss) and wished him well. I told him brighter days are ahead for him,” Upchurch said. “He’s got a lot of young kids. If they stick with him and the program they’ll be better over time. One of the most difficult things to do is build a football program.”
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