CAIRO — As his Cairo Syrupmakers prepare to start the season against Thomasville, coach Steve Devoursney thinks about how close his team came last year to pulling out a win.

And he’s going into Friday night’s opener wanting to see his team finish what it started.

Thomasville rallied in the final six minutes, scoring the deciding two-point conversion with 1:37 to go.

“We just hadn’t played well against them,” Devoursney said. “We’ve never played well. Last year, we dominated for three quarters, three quarters and six minutes, and fell apart the last six minutes. We have to put a complete game together.”

But the Syrupmakers have been hampered in putting their game plan to the test in practice. Lightning and other weather conditions have forced them in to the gymnasium for practice. 

While it is dry and cool, Cairo hasn’t had a chance to do such things as run passing routes or engage in the more physical aspects of game preparation such as tackling.

“The biggest problem is we hadn’t been able to go outside,” Devoursney said. ‘That’s been our biggest concern. We’ve got to practice outside and throw the ball around. We’re a little behind defensively. Hopefully, we’ll catch up.”

The Syrupmakers, who beat Thomas County Central in their preseason scrimmage, bring one of Class AAAA’s most highly-touted teams into Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night. 

“Friday night, they’ll be excited and ready to go,” Devoursney said. “It’s here, whether you’re ready or not.”

Editor Pat Donahue can be reached at (229) 226-2400 ext. 1806.