DJ McFadden, the football coach at Independence High School, talks about their upcoming game against Butler High School.
By Makayla Holder / The Charlotte Observer
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[Music] What's going on everybody hey and it's An additional piece of the grais game of The week we already got a two pack we're Interviewing coaches to go on with this As I think this one thing we can all Agree the state's done some things that You know may make us scratch our head a Little bit at times but this is one of The things they've gotten right these End of the year battles between some big Time programs we've got another one this Year of course per usual with the big What is it the king of Hill what is what Is the appropriately name rivalry DJ It's the King of the Hill King of the Hill so we got the King of the Hill got The trophy and everything that is Between Independence and Butler again we Have Coach here DJ mcfaden who's you Know one of the best coaches and has Done one of the best jobs I feel like in This city um has you know established That standard coach we're happy to have You on I'll start first you know of Course having seen your guys up front You know this year looking at your team You know at first in the beginning Everybody's kind of trying to figure it Out you you know our game I thought you Know week two I think that was or week Three whatever you week two you guys Really asserted your dominance I think Is kind of carried forward where's your
Team now as you look at kind of how The Season's gone especially going into this Game because it's a little different You're undefeated this year you know Going into it how's your how do your Guys feel and how do you guys feel as a Staff um yeah we we're we're right where We we want to be right where we thought We would be um coming out of that Non-conference stretch kind of playing Our best ball right now we're peing We're getting healthy um you know we had A pretty decent non-conference schedule Man and that kind of prepared us for This run and we kind of wanted it like That um you know guys have gained Experience throughout the year um guys Are playing better um like I said guys Are getting healthy man so um we're kind Of right where we want to be right where We thought we would be kind of heading Into this championship game yeah I think Uh I think your quarterback is really Coming to play the type of ball that he Was towards of last year he's being the Leader you guys need him to be and I Think you guys were very young a lot in Certain areas like the offensive line And they've gained so much experience Now that they've caught up with the rest Of the team and I think that you guys Are are something to be reckoned with Right now what do you feel about the Offensive Line's Pro uh you know
Progress throughout the year yeah I mean Those guys you know starting off the Season we had four new offensive linemen One of them was a freshman one guy had Never played o line before and the other Two were JV guys last year so um you Know as the season um has gone along They've gotten uh better and better just Kind of understand their assignments and Just playing The Experience man you know Your first time Varsity player and you Playing in Memorial Stadium against Maler Creek that's tough um and then you Know you got to turn around play Hickory Ridge and the crazy game that was and Then turn around to play a game um Against a tough West Charlotte team I Mean we had a tough stretch um just with A lot of guys just kind of you know Wanting to gain experience and and Getting comfortable in the system and Then me as a play caller kind of getting Comfortable with all the new pieces on Offense and kind of learning what guys Can do well and things like that and I Think that's what you saw those first Four games um I think by the time we hit Catholic um just like last year even Though we lost last year I thought that Was kind of the turning point for our Season and um like I said we're kind of Right where we want to Be no doubt gr got something to ask you I can't say that you know you gotta talk
We gotta we got to get into this raly I Think this is one rivalry to me that's Unique that I like it for of course the Historical aspect I like it for the fact That you know you're coaching where you Played additionally you coached on the Other side of this rivalry so I mean There are many layers to this that you Know again I see it on the schedule I Knew week one this was going to be a Grace's game of the week can you talk About that robbery even you know going Back to to the legend TK as he called Him the puppy dogs with that battle and Just kind of how you look at it how you View that other side you with your time Even being over there and what you Expect to accomplish yeah we think this Is one of the best Ries in the state Especially now um you know we're both Kind of back at the top of the state um Like I said said we're planing for a Conference Championship playing for the King of the Hill trophy um both teams Undefeated in the conference this year You know we got a chance to win backto Back games against that team so you know It's a lot on the line man um we don't Talk much about what's happened in the Past in this rivaly because I'm sure you As Butler fans they gonna say well the Last 10 years you know we've been Dominating this rivalry but you know I Can say well I remember time when we
Dominated so you know what we've been Telling our kids is the only thing that Matters is pretty much What's happened in these last three Years with this regime we got some guys That have that are sitting at one and One right now against them on the Varsity level so we got a chance to kind Of sett the score there um we respect That program but you know at the end of The day we're gonna stand on business And you know we planning on taking care Of that Friday I agree man I think the robbery Coach we we had to get you on again you Know shout out to what you're doing with That program continuing to raise the bar There as I feel like each year no matter What you've had no matter what seniors Are leaving you're raising that standard And I think you know within this city Everyone knows that you go out to M Hill And have to play those Patriots it's Going to be a long day so you know shout Out to you coach you know rooting for You guys um definitely you know best of Luck this week and on into the playoffs I appreciate you guys man appreciate you Having me doing a great job man I love Your culture [Music] Brother
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