PSN Spotlight - Hillgrove Hawks Football Under New Direction In New Head Coach Justin Deshon

As the Hillgrove Hawks prepare for the start of the 2021 season, they will be doing so with new head coach, Justin Deshon at the helm. Deshon comes over from Chapel Hill, where he was the coach for seven years before exiting for the Hillgrove position, says it’s nice for he and his team back to work for the second week following dead week, especially when reflecting on the 2020 season and how it was impacted by COVID-19.

“We reflect upon that a lot, almost daily,” Deshon said adding “especially when you get tired and you realize you’re in a grind but, what you have now, compared to what you had (this time last year) it’s just nice being out here, kids got their spirit back, coaches, it’s an escape for us and we’re having fun and we really are getting better and when you really reflect on it, you’re able to do so much more than you were last year because you have your hands on your kids the whole time.”

The Hawks finished the 2020 season 4-5 overall and 1-4 in their region, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and for Coach Deshon, coming and establishing how he and his coaching staff want things to run, will be key for the Hawks to return to post season action. “Establishing a culture, what the expectations are, and then from there, the identity of our offensive and defensive scheme and molding the kids into how we want to play and what we’re going to do,” Deshon said.

Hillgrove will open the 2021 season on August 20 when they face region rival Norcross.