It was after Evans' first loss last year and Knights coach Marty Jackson said he wanted to see how his team would respond.
But the loss, to Mount Zion at home in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs, ended the Knights' season.
Jackson's team protected the ball all season during an undefeated run to the Region 3-AAAA title. In the loss to Mount Zion, the Knights surpassed their season playoff total for turnovers.
None of that matters now. Evans has put the imperfect end to a perfect season behind it.
Jackson will get his chance to see how the Knights respond when they open their season Friday with rival Greenbrier.
"We need to look at what we can do," senior offensive lineman Wes Ivie said. "We need to keep on doing how we do business and throw out what happened last year."
The philosophy is the same for Evans this season.
WIN is the team's acronym for "What's important now?"
The phrase keeps the Knights focused on the task at hand -- to win every play.
Ivie and the other seniors have continued a tradition of past teams, with the seniors making up "The Knights of the Round Table," a group responsible for team-building activities.
The offensive line -- along with quarterback Troy Griffith -- met regularly during the summer to eat at Bojangles. The Thursday before the team's scrimmage at Emmanuel County Institute, the Knights continued a recent tradition of crashing CiCi's buffet. And on game days, Evans will meet at West Acres Baptist Church for its pregame meal and devotional.
"We're basically the leaders of the team," Griffith said of the Round Table. "We have meetings, eat dinner as a team, making sure people have rides."
The Knights senior class is not as large as last year's group, but Evans has experience in key spots.
Griffith and running back Jonathan Finch are seniors, as are four of five starting offensive linemen. That core will be key if Finch is to replicate the success of last season, when he rushed for more than 1,600 yards.
Jackson expects Finch will be the focus of every team this season but said that the Knights go deeper than their standout back.
The Knights lost key playmakers to graduation, but have plenty back. Among them are receivers Tevin Nelson and Justin Black, along with running back and receiver Jamerson Turner.
"It's going to be hard to just stop one person on this team and expect to stop the whole team," Griffith said. "We got too many athletes."
Reach Stephen Fastenau at (706) 863-6165, ext. 116 or stephen.fastenau@augustachronicle.com.
EVANS KNIGHTS
Coach: Marty Jackson (seventh season)
Region: GHSA 3-AAAA
Last year: 10-1 (9-0). The Knights went 10-0 in the regular season before falling in the first round of the playoffs at home.
Starters back: 8 offense, 3 defense
They're gone: DL Nigel Charles, DL Reuben Faloughi, WR/DB Brandon McCladdie
They're here: RB Jonathan Finch (5-8, 180), QB Troy Griffith (6-3, 200), LB/WR Darnell Jackson (5-9, 180)
Why they are excited: Finch is one of the most feared players in the area. An experienced offensive line and set of receivers will block for him. Knights seem motivated by last year's playoff flameout.
Why they are cautious: Evans won games with its defense last year; most of those standouts are gone. It also turned the ball over just six times in the regular season - can that happen again?
- Matt Middleton
TWO-A-DAYS PREVIEWING THE AREA'S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS:
Aug. 16: Richmond Academy, Silver Bluff
AUG. 17: Augusta Christian, Fox Creek
AUG. 18: Aiken, Burke County
AUG. 19: South Aiken, Thomson
AUG. 20: Midland Valley, Jefferson County
AUG. 21: Strom Thurmond, Grovetown
AUG. 21: Lakeside, Harlem
AUG. 22: North Augusta, Glenn Hills
MONDAY: Aquinas, Lincoln County
TUESDAY: Cross Creek, Josey
WEDNESDAY: Hephzibah, Butler
TODAY: Greenbrier, Evans
FRIDAY: Laney, Westside
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