Escambia County Blue Devils head coach Mark Heaton meant business when he spoke to some of his players Monday during their seventh-period weightlifting class.

Heaton was disappointed by what he had seen from his players in previous classes because they were not meeting his expectations.

It’s the end of the first nine-week workout session for the Escambia County Blue Devils and as his team tested their maxes, Heaton saw that the necessary progress was not being made.

Before he began testing his players, Heaton sat them down and discussed the dilemma that he was seeing from other players.

His message was clear. That message being players would either fix the problem and work harder or they could “get on down the road.”

In his sixth-period class there are 22 players and only three made the 20-pound increase that he thinks is what is needed.

Less than 15 percent were testing out at the proper maxes.

The look on Heaton’s face said it all as he told his players that number was full of disappointment.

As his team moves into their second nine weeks of work, Heaton will be making sure each and every player progresses how they should.

He took responsibility for the lack of achievement, but also made it clear that if his team wants to succeed, they will have to take pride in their workouts.

He wants leaders to emerge and he wants them now.

What he does not want is another 35-13 loss to a Bibb County team that makes the necessary strides in the weightroom.

He wants to see his own team progress, so they can handout those types of losses.

Chandler Myers is sports editor of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123 or by e-mail at sports@atmoreadvance.com