Mars Hill coach Tim Clifton reflects on team’s 8-3 season: ‘We had a really good year’ – Asheville Citizen-Times

MARS HILL - While Mars Hill's 26-19 loss to Wingate Nov. 13 eliminated the team from playoff contention, coach Tim Clifton said he feels the team's tough loss will only motivate his players to come back stronger.

Clifton, who is in his 29th season as head coach, said the feeling in the locker room after the game was one of heartbreak.

"It broke their hearts," he said. "It didn't feel good. It was disappointment. You're sitting there and you try to tell them they had a great year.We had a great year, but that disappointment was there. That hurt was there. Until you feel that hurt, you don't know what it's like."

The coach said he was proud of his team's season.

"You go 8-3, it's a good year," he said. "Our kids played extremely hard, and they worked hard. Our coaches worked hard. I thought we had a really great year. You want to be in it in November. We went to the last game, and that's all you can ask for. We just came up a little short. We played hard, and had a chance to win."

Despite a 2-2 start, the Lions won six straight before losing in its final game.

Though the season just finished, the coach and his staff are still working hard as ever, as he and his staff are currently conducting exit interviews, and the coaches are in the peak of recruiting season.

Clifton said the team's loss in its final game will motive the players heading into next year.

"We knocked on the door, we just didn't kick it down yet," said Clifton. "We're hungry. The closer you get, the hungrier you get."

"I told the guys (Nov. 15), 'We were eight points away.' Eight points. That's a few more days in the weight room. That's a few more days on the field. That's a few more days on working to get better. That's a few more days of getting extra reps. So, you're there. Now, it's (a question of) 'Are you hungry or are you complacent?'"

The Lions will lose star receiver C.J. Thompson, as well as receiver Marquis Williams.

Still,starting quarterback Jimmy Urzua will be returning next year, along with star tight end and 2015 Madison High graduate Ty Snelson, who tallied 10 TDs on the year.

On the defensive side, Clifton said he expectslinebacker Landon Honeycutt and defensive back Tristan Rankin - who led the country with 8 INTs - to be two of the team's leaders on defense.

On Nov. 18, the South Atlantic Conference announced six Lions were named First Teamall-SAC.

Leondras Thomas joined Thomas and Snelson as the offensive players awarded first team honors.

Thompson was second in the SAC with 69.8 yards receiving per game and 768 yards receiving, and third with seven touchdown receptions.

Snelson led the SAC in touchdown receptions with nine and was ninth in the conference in yards per game with 49.5, according to the announcement.

Linebacker Dexter Fitzpatrick was recognized with first team honors along with Rankin and Honeycutt on the defensive side.

Looking to next season, Clifton said he trusts his players know they have a job to do: win its first South Atlantic Conference title since 2011.

"We went into this season, we made the decision that we're going to be a really good football team," he said. "There was a slogan we used, and it was the same slogan we used when I first got here in 1993-94, and it was 'No rest until respect.' We weren't going to rest until we got respect. We got their attention. We got their respect. But we haven't finished it yet. We got some work that we have to take care of."

Joe Hillin has been the team's offensive line coach for five seasons, and played for the team from 2013-17. He said he feels like the team's bond is as close as he's seen it.

"We had kids that were freshmen and sophomores that were extremely upset about losing (to Wingate)," he said. "It kind of shows you they care. All our guys care and they bought in to what's going on. I think our team is closer than it's ever been in the past. We have guys that hang out that you wouldn't think hang out. That's all organic."

Like Clifton, Hillin said he anticipates the players will have a chip on their shoulder as they head into next season.

"Sometimes it's good to have a little bit of a sour taste," he said. "It's going to end one way or another, and there's only one team that's happy in this whole thing: the ones who win the national championship."

Hillin said he feels the program rounded a corner this season, which he expects that momentum to carry over into next year.

"For us it's good to see kids upset because it shows you our standards have changed, and what's expected has changed. The whole (mentality of) '6-5 - Yeah, we won six games and had a winning season' (mentality) has gone out the window.

"For the last couple years, getting kids in here for recruiting, I knew we were going to be good. I didn't think we were going to be to thatpoint of being 8-3 already. That's all strictly due to (the players). We've got some guys that can play."

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Mars Hill coach Tim Clifton reflects on team's 8-3 season: 'We had a really good year' - Asheville Citizen-Times