The Patriots had fewer than 40 boys in the varsity and junior varsity program last year and were in the midst of a losing streak that reached 20 games.

Among the losses were 63-0, 70-0, 48-0 and 53-0 pastings.

Those type of losses were routine and school officials considered dropping the varsity team and playing only a junior varsity schedule to keep overmatched players safe.

"It never got beyond the discussion stage, but looking back, our problems were a blessing in disguise," said Pinecrest principal Joel County.

School officials decided to play the rest of the varsity season, but it was clear changes were needed.

The Patriots had been out-scored 895-91 during the past three seasons, allowing 50 or more points in 10 of 33 games.

The school lured Bill Metzger and three members of his staff from Naples (Fla.) Lely High.

Metzger's family is in Kentucky, his wife's family is in the Washington, D.C., area, and North Carolina is roughly 600 miles closer to both families than Naples.

But the challenge was what brought Metzger to Pinecrest.

"I was told it was the worst program in the state," he said. "That was exciting."

There was only one way to go, but Metzger knew there would be little improvement until the players became excited about football and about themselves.

He describes March 15, 2007, his first day at Pinecrest, as awesome.

"It was very clear to me that the school and the community was excited about the future," he said. "It was an incredible day. These kids were hungry for discipline and ready for changes."

Metzger didn't talk about winning football games on that first day and he still has not.

He has emphasized that the players needed to work harder in the classroom, get involved in the community and work at becoming better people.

He organized a 6 a.m. Breakfast of Champions, a voluntary workout four days a week for all of the school's athletes.

More than 75 students attended regularly.

Metzger scoured the community for opportunities for the football players to volunteer, because he believes you can't expect a community to support you if you don't support the community.

The community has reciprocated by almost filling the stadium for its two home games.

Pinecrest won its first two games this season, defeating Cardinal Gibbons 27-7 and Cameron Union Pines 32-27. The Patriots dropped their next two games -- 34-13 to St. Pauls and 42-19 to Southern Lee.

Pinecrest plays in the Mid-Southeastern 4-A Conference, arguably the best league in the state with Scotland County, Richmond County, Fayetteville Seventy-First, Fayetteville Byrd and Fayetteville Britt in it.

The Patriots will be underdogs in the rest of their games, but Metzger sees progress.

A ninth-grade team has 77 players. The junior varsity has 60 and he carries 44 on the varsity for a total of 181 players, an increase of 140 players from 2006.

"We never use the word satisfied," Metzger said. "But I'm encouraged."

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