Sold on determination
Eric Bendig knew his job would involve more than X’s and O’s when he was named the coach of the Philip Simmons High School football team when the school opened in time for the 2017-18 academic year.
He also had to sell the program to student-athletes that first season when the Iron Horses competed at the junior varsity level only. The next season, the Iron Horses posted a 2-8 record in their varsity debut.
Today, the Iron Horses are one of the top football Class AA programs in the Palmetto State. Bendig has proved to be one of the best coaches – and salesmen – in the state.
The Iron Horses took their lumps in the early years but used it as a learning experience. Since 2021, the Iron Horses are 48-14.
The Iron Horses had 113 players participate in spring practice at the varsity, junior varsity, and B-team levels after posting a 10-3 record last fall. The Iron Horses won the Region 6-AA championship and reached the third round of the state playoffs.
The numbers should be similar when Bendig’s crew opens fall practice on July 31. Look for the Iron Horses to continue their winning ways as Bendig continues to sell the program to potential student-athletes.
“I still look at it like I am selling it every day,” Bendig said. “I tell our players that we have to sell it every day. I tell that to our coaches. We want to build sustained success and be the standard for how football programs are measured in our area. The only thing easier is that we do have proven results to show from the work we put in over the years.”
The Iron Horses are strong contenders to win a third straight Region 6-AA championship as Bendig welcomes back nine starters on offense and nine starters on defense.
Could this be the year when the Iron Horses hoist a state championship trophy?
“Our expectations haven’t wavered in the nine years we have been around,” Bendig said. “We have had success on the field with region titles and making meaningful runs in the playoffs.
“State titles are hard to come by, and we need to focus one game at a time, one championship at a time: Region, Lower State, State,” the coach added. “If we do what we have the ability to do, we will give ourselves the best shot to be in a run for it.”
The team has put in the work in the weight room over the summer, and that will pay dividends this fall.
“We had a great summer,” Bendig said. “This group comes in every day, and we ask them to work and build each other up. It is a very close-knit group, and they have worked very hard.”
Key returners on offense include quarterback Hayes Goddard, wide receivers Ashton Kellermann, Patrick Clarke, and Blake Johnson, and linemen Sullivan Tollison and Christian Cromedy.
Key players on defense include defensive ends Alex Tchoryk and Roman Hood, linebacker Nathaniel Elsey, Rico Curry, defensive back Omonte Taylor, and Ryland Donley.
Look for the Iron Horses to play with passion.
“We need to play with a fire like we never have before,” Bendig said. “We are not a team that can afford to start slow or make mistakes to give moments of the game away. I want us to play with a chip on our shoulders like we still are out there proving to everyone that we are a championship team.”