Pigskin Preview 2018

PIGSKIN PREVIEW An FCNSPORTS publication

...ACTION! Denmark High has a brand-new football program. Now what?

INSIDE: Season previews and rosters for seven county teams

FORSYTH CENTRAL BULLDOGS

FOOTBALL

ForsythCentralFootball.com

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Contributors

Table of contents

SPORTS EDITOR

Team Previews

Ian Frazer ifrazer@forsythnews.com 770-205-8976 Twitter: @ianmcfrazer

SPORTS WRITER

David Almeda dalmeda@forsythnews.com 770-205-8972 Twitter: @dave_almeda

PHOTOGRAPHER

GHSA TEAMS

Denmark.......................................................6 Forsyth Central............................................8 South Forsyth..............................................10 North Forsyth..............................................12 Lambert........................................................14 West Forsyth................................................18 Pinecrest Academy......................................20

Ben Hendren benhendren@outlook.com Instagram: benh_photography

Extras

ADVERTISING

On the cover

Cover story..................................................26

Nathan Schutter Advertising Director nschutter@forsythnews.com 770-205-8960 Rosario Woliver Account Executive rwoliver@forsythnews.com Connor Kelly Account Executive ckelly@forsythnews.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tracie Pike

MANAGEMENT

Stephanie Woody Publisher swoody@forsythnews.com 770-205-8945 Brian Paglia Editor bpaglia@forysthnews.com 770-205-8970

Connect with us on social media @ForsythSports facebook.com/fcnsports Instagram: fcnsports

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

This is the first season in Denmark Danes history, and not unlike a film director, head coach Terry Crowder has had to determine the look, the sound and the story of this brandnew program. He might even “script” some plays. The truth is, there’s a lot that goes into a film or photo shoot: Setting the lighting, finding the right angle, using the gift of modern technology, and hoping it all turned out okay. That’s a theme you’ll see throughout the magazine: With each team, we poked fun at a different element that goes into those ‘gramready shots you’ve come to expect from us.

Confront and Demand

#GreatDayToBeADane

DENMARK DANES

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

(Bright) lights, camera...well, you know the rest. Denmark is counting on the junior trio of Ze’Vian Capers, Nick Carozza and Zach Burchfield to be leading men in the Danes’ inaugural season.

By David Almeda

dalmeda@forsythnews.com

During Denmark’s first coaches’ meeting, head coach Terry Crowder sat down and asked the rest of his staff to write on a sheet of paper what they thought the Danes’ inaugural season record would be.

He got a varied amount of answers: 8-2. 7-3.

6-4. 5-5. There was even a 4-6.

The outlook for Forsyth County’s newest team is murky. The Danes, who are pulling mostly from South Forsyth to fill its roster, have no seniors but certainly have some older talent that can contribute well. A vast majority of the team will consist of sophomores and freshmen who have never seen a varsity snap.

With 26 starters set to return for Denmark’s second year, the future is potentially bright for a team that’s starting its existence not with a JV schedule, but a full varsity slate in Class 4A. Despite the future outlook, things could get very challenging this year.

“The old adage that’s kind of scary is, ‘For every sophomore you can play on Friday night, you can count that as a loss,’” Crowder said.

“Well, I hope that’s not true because we’re going to have a bunch of sophomores out

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

there.”

With how young Denmark is, Crowder and the coaching staff will be relying heavily on the oldest players they’ve been dealt. At the top of that list is Ze’Vian Capers, a junior wide receiver who has college offers from Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Arkansas.

His 604 yards and four touchdowns with South last season earned him first team all-county honors. On the defensive side, junior Nick Carozza will be a key leader at linebacker.

“We’ve probably got five or six guys that are as good as anybody I’ve been around — five or six guys that would have started on our state championship team at Chattahoochee,” Crowder said. “That’s a great foundation.”

Crowder says that his core of juniors will play both ways, with each one getting rest on the side of the ball opposite of their primary position. That strategy will be paramount with the quality of competition the Danes are set to face from the get-go. Region 7-4A consists of Blessed Trinity and Marist, the state champions and runners-up from last season and the clear favorites to win the region.

Junior Ben Whitlock will take the reins of See DENMARK | 30

2018 schedule All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted Aug. 24 vs Cherokee Bluff Aug. 31 at North Springs Sept. 7 at Forsyth Central Sept. 14 vs Dawson County Sept. 21 at Chestatee* Sept. 28 vs West Hall* Oct. 5 vs Blessed Trinity* Oct. 12 at Marist* Oct. 19 vs White County* Nov. 2 at Flowery Branch* *Region 7-4A game

the coach Terry Crowder

At Denmark: 0-0, first season Overall: 91-62, 15th season

trophy case First varsity season: 2018 Playoff appearances: none Region titles: none State titles: none

2018 ROSTER No. Name

Position

Year

No. Name

1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22

WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB RB/LB QB/LB WR/DB QB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB QB/LB QB/LB QB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DL RB/LB

Fr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr. So.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 44 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

Emmaneul Foutner Teddy Davenport Andres Herrada Joshua Champ Malachi Harris Adonnis Tolbert Andrew Harvey Jordan Rhodes Devin duCille Drew Clare Tyler Kloda Manav Patel Prem Amin Treston Jordan Zion Lewis Ross Howard Rasmalik Crockett Jake Swart Clayton Horner Ben Whitlock Ben Cripe Tyler Mullin Josh Robinson Mason Harris Ethan Culbreth Liam Beguiristain Zach Bowen

Position

Year

No. Name

Position

Year

Ze’Vian Capers WR/DB Asher West TE/LB Eli West TE/LB Tyler Williams WR/DB Matthew CassandraRB/DB Davis Klepchick WR/DB Jake Brown WR/DB John Mau WR/DB Ryan Ayala WR/DB Kaden Henley WR/DB Dee Kunthy WR/DB Lane Grayson TE/LB Carson Brandonisio TE/LB Colin Scott WR/DB Jay Pugh RB/DB Zach Burchfield TE/LB Jeremy Burchfield TE/LB Nolan Hale TE/DL Nick Carozza TE/LB Trey Patterson TE/LB Justin Hunter TE/LB Mohammed Alam WR/DB Ron Conley WR/LB Nic Cimino OL/DL Kade Mogan OL/DL Harrison Halder OL/LB Garrett Street OL/DL

Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. So. So. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So. So. Jr. Fr. So. Jr.

54 55 56 57 59 61 62 65 65 66 69 75 78 79 80 81 82 84 85 86 87 89 91 92 93 94 99

OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB QB/DB K TE/DL WR/DB K WR/DB TE/LB OL/DL

Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. So. Jr. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.

Elijah Mitchell Hayden Songer Arthur Marsden Chris Armenta Evan Kloda Pratham Patel Trey Garmon Luke Kimel Nate Roche Noah Mallard Dontrae Mann Dae Han Alvi Daniyal Will Purdy Kourtland Tolbert Ryan Tallent Leo Molina Jack Madden Mason Haigler JC Mauk Sam Lawrence Michael Vinson Tavian Anderson Trey Glymph Xavier Anderson Nathan Wingard Alex Castro

August 17. 2018 | Pigskin Preview |

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FORSyTh CENTRAl BulldOGS

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

Yeah, shoots can get kind of tedious sometimes. And why not use the available lighting for a top-quality selfie. From left: Hunter Cagle, Jackson Leak, Garrett Nash, Dalton Edmunds.

By Ian Frazer

ifrazer@forsythnews.com

Frank Hepler’s decision to take the head coaching job at Forsyth Central was met with skepticism.

Not because of Hepler: The former West Forsyth head coach, who started the Wolverines’ program and never recorded a losing season, taking the Wolverines to the state quarterfinals in 2011, is one of the most respected and well-liked coaches in the county.

Shawn Cahill, West’s current head coach, even remarked last season that he still heard Hepler’s name frequently.

Rather, it was because of the situation Hepler was stepping into, and the people he talked to were frank about it.

“When I first got there, they told me, ‘Hey, the parents at Central won’t come out. The kids at Central won’t come out.

There’s nobody on the team. It’s a terrible school,’” Hepler said.

“But I’ve seen nothing but greatness here.”

Given that the Bulldogs are coming off an 0-10 season, the timing of that statement seems odd. But Hepler is optimistic and positive as ever, listing improvements he’s seen in participation, See CENTRAL | 22

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

2017 RESulTS

2018 SChEdulE

0-10 overall, 0-5 Region 5-7A Dawson County 9, Central 0 River Ridge 7, Central 0 Meadowcreek 29, Central 27 Duluth 42, Central 41 Kennesaw Mountain 49, Central 42 North 58, Central 0* West 38, Central 19* Milton 17, Central 0* South 43, Central 10* Lambert 34, Central 19* *Region 5-7A game

All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted Aug. 17 vs Chamblee Aug. 31 vs Cass Sept. 7 vs Denmark Sept. 14 at Lakeside (Atlanta) Sept. 21 at Clarkston Oct. 5 at North Forsyth* Oct. 12 vs West Forsyth* Oct. 19 at Milton* Oct. 26 vs South Forsyth* Nov. 2 at Lambert* *Region 5-7A game

TROPhy CASE

ThE COACh

First varsity season: 1955 Playoff appearances: 5 (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001) Region titles: 3 (1996, 1997, 2000) State titles: none

Frank Hepler

At Central: 3-16, third season Overall: 192-75, 25th season

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SOUTH FORSYTH WAR EAGLES

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

Who’s going to be front and center for South Forsyth this year? The natural choice is quarterback Drew Morris (14), but a trio of strong senior defensive players in Luis Gonzalez, Jack Pehrson and Jamal Camp could make their own claims.

By Ian Frazer

ifrazer@forsythnews.com

The South Forsyth football program, in recent months, has done its best to focus on itself.

That seems like an obvious and easily accomplished goal for any football program, but the War Eagles don’t have the same circumstances this year as most. Denmark High School recently opened in the southwestern part of the county, and most of the students at the new school came from South. A good number of them were football players.

So the War Eagles had to absorb two blows during the offseason: The graduation of the winningest senior class in program history, and the loss of many of the young players who would have served as replacements. South speaks of that impact in vague terms, but the War Eagles can’t deny that it exists.

“We’ve had to face a lot more adversity this year than past years,” senior fullback Daryn Rogers said.

But during the Forsyth Sports Media Day, War Eagles head coach Jeff Arnette noted one important trait about the South players that are still there: This senior class, too, has the potential to be the best the program has seen. With this year’s team, the chances of that are not remote.

South has 30 seniors this year, an enviable number for many programs. That experience is especially evident and present on See SOUTH | 30

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2017 results

2018 schedule

9-2 overall, 5-0 Region 5-7A South 17, Roswell 14 South 56, Pinecrest Academy 10 (Forfeited) South 45, Centennial 14 South 30, South Gwinnett 23 South 37, Lassiter 20 South 38, Lambert 0* South 21, Milton 13* South 47, North 10* South 43, Central 10* South 28, West 14* Mountain View 31, South 13** *Region 5-7A game **GHSA playoff game

All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted Aug. 17 at Sprayberry Aug. 24 at Blessed Trinity Aug. 31 vs Etowah Sept. 7 vs South Gwinnett Sept. 21 at Hillgrove Oct. 5 at Lambert* Oct. 12 vs Milton* Oct. 19 vs North Forsyth* Oct. 26 at Forsyth Central* Nov. 2 vs West Forsyth* *Region 5-7A game

trophy case

the coach

First varsity season: 1991 Playoff appearances: 11 (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) Region titles: 3 (1997, 2015, 2017) State titles: none

Jeff Arnette

At South: 52-35, ninth season Overall: 97-59-1, 16th season

2018 ROSTER No. Name

Position

Year

No. Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

RB/DB WR/DB RB/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/LB QB TE/DL WR/DB RB/LB QB QB/DB RB/LB QB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB TE/DL

Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So.

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 48 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58

Tre’von Green Colby Cruz Jordan Brunson Foster Burch Pierce Meier Samson Abney Jayden Ervin Ehren Achtermann Zachary Fischer Cameron Schurr Camden Payne Jax Weaver Drew Morris Peyton Kelley Steven Braukman Jaylen Leak Joe Slott Cameron Fox Alec Stephens Julian Bolanos Landon Sims Josh Green Chase Calloway Jack Pehrson Brett Morlanne C.J. Ford Devin McGlockton

Position

Matthew Meersman WR/DB Case Incorvaia WR/DB Alex Han RB/LB Daryn Rogers RB/LB Andrew Hill RB/LB Nicholas Pergolini WR/DB Zachary Layne RB/DL Bryce Connelly FB/LB Mitchell Thompson WR/DB Gavin Rodrigue WR/DB Lee Troutman RB/LB Michael Bergin FB/LB Dylan Malissa FB/DL Preston Underwood WR/DL Nick Barton FB/LB Evan O’Leary TE/DL Quinn O’Grady FB/LB Martin Armenta RB/LB Keegan Toner RB/DB Christian Welch OL/DL Louis Gonzalez OL/DL Patrick Vaughan OL/DL Bryce Hutcheson OL/DL Jamal Camp OL/DL Alan Reyes OL/DL Taft Hilton OL/DL Thomas Butler OL/DL

Year

No. Name

So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. So.

60 61 63 64 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 75 76 77 78 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 91 94 95 98

Jackson Hutcheson Anthony Adside Braden Beecher James Fehr Ethan Morris Cameron Michini Derek Newsome Bryce Myers Nicholas Hartman Ryan Hughes Ethan Patrick Trevor Patrick Tabor Fleming Bryce Cockfield Bailey Bevers Peyton Ray Brandon Law Aiden Dooley John Brannigan Jonathan Ireland Tyler Meersman Shreyash Jha Jake Nazarowski Jacob Zorinich Cameron Cheeley William Geiling Willian Botta

Position

OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DL TE/DL WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB RB/DL WR/DB WR/DB K

Year

So. So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr.

August 17. 2018 | Pigskin Preview |

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NORTh FORSyTh RAIdERS

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

With the magic of a green screen, you can be anything: A gladiator, Atlas, a pirate, a beach bum, or even a North Forsyth Raider. From left: Honus Wagner, Charlie Aiken, Grant Sarbon, Jon Fleming.

By David Almeda

dalmeda@forsythnews.com

The week of their first foray into the postseason since 2013, North Forsyth’s football team stood at attention. Raiders head coach Robert Craft asked for a show of hands from players who had been in a playoff game before.

Not a single hand went up.

North’s season ended after that first-round matchup last season against eventual Class 7A state champion North Gwinnett, but the Raiders hope making the playoffs is just a single step to greater things in year three under Craft’s leadership, with plenty of key starters returning.

While making the playoffs was certainly an accomplishment, North was reeling a little bit before it got there. The Raiders began the 2017 season well, standing at 5-2 after opening their region schedule with wins over Forsyth Central and Lambert.

Those victories ended up being North’s last, as the Raiders fell to South Forsyth, West Forsyth and Milton before its first round playoff loss to end the season at 5-6 overall.

“I don’t think it’s a negative thing at all,” Craft said. “I think it speaks to the competition in our league.”

See NORTH | 23

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2017 RESulTS

2018 SChEdulE

5-6 overall, 2-3 Region 5-7A Sequoyah 30, North 28 North 28, Johns Creek 6 North 24, Loganville 17 North 58, Pickens 35 Woodstock 49, North 17 North 58, Central 0* North 45, Lambert 21* South 47, North 10* West 35, North 16* Milton 49, North 17* North Gwinnett 55, North 7** *Region 5-7A game **GHSA playoff game

All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted Aug. 17 vs Cherokee Aug. 24 at Gainesville Aug. 31 vs Northview Sept. 24 at Kennesaw Mountain Sept. 24 at Woodstock Oct. 5 vs Forsyth Central* Oct. 12 vs Lambert* Oct. 19 at South Forsyth* Oct. 26 at West Forsyth* Nov. 2 vs Milton* *Region 5-7A game

TROPhy CASE

ThE COACh

First varsity season: 1994 Playoff appearances: 9 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017) Region titles: 1 (2001)

At North: 9-12, third season Overall: 58-33, ninth season

Robert Craft

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LAMBERT LONGHORNS

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

At Lambert, head coach Louis Daniel is in command, even with the camera. From left: Ethan Anderson, Chris Taylor, Nathan Smith and Drew Dockter.

Cameron Adamczyk

For the Forsyth County News

“It’s a humbling sport,” Lambert head football coach Louis Daniel observed at the 2018 Forsyth Sports Media Day. Following the program’s most successful season in its school’s history in 2016, the Longhorns struggled to follow the campaign with similar results. Lambert dropped seven games on the season, but the real red mark came in region play.

They lost to North Forsyth for the first time in school history, dropped their games against West Forsyth and Milton and got blown out against their biggest rival South Forsyth. Lambert missed the state playoffs entirely and finished second to last in the region.

“Last year there were two or three games where you’re right there,” Daniel said, “and if those flip, you’re looking at 6-4.”

Heading into the new season, Lambert finds itself in a new position – an underdog. With the rosters of Milton and South Forsyth littered with big time recruits, the spotlight has shifted away from the Longhorns.

See LAMBERT | 30

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2017 results

2018 schedule

3-7 overall, 1-4 Region 5-7A Mountain View 31, Lambert 13 Collins Hill 24, Lambert 6 Lambert 28, Cherokee 0 Lanier 15, Lambert 6 Lambert 36, Wheeler 27 South 38, Lambert 0* North 45, Lambert 21* West 28, Lambert 24* Milton 34, Lambert 10* Lambert 34, Central 19* *Region 5-7A game

All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted Aug. 17 vs Wheeler Aug. 24 vs Chattahoochee Aug. 31 at Gainesville Sept. 7 at Peachtree Ridge Sept. 21 vs Lanier Oct. 5 vs South Forsyth* Oct. 12 at North Forsyth* Oct. 19 at West Forsyth* Oct. 26 at Milton* Nov. 2 vs Forsyth Central* *Region 5-7A game

trophy case

the coach

First varsity season: 2010 Playoff appearances: 6 (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) Region titles: 1 (2016) State titles: none

At Lambert: 25-19, fifth season Overall: 25-19, fifth season

Louis Daniel

2018 ROSTER No. Name

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Position

Gallil Guillaume DE/RB John Thompson WR/CB Hunter Gore WR/LB Zack Ansari WR/CB T.J. Mathis WR/SS Peyton Rich QB Anthony Newton WR/CB Logan Wire QB Drew Dockter RB/K Jack Stewart Braden Bamburowski Drew Surio FS/WR Blake Nichols WR/LS Nathan Smith DE/LB Ethan Thibodeaux Jackson Wise Brentan Newberry QB Nalan Annadurai WR/DB James Li Miller Bustamante Tyler Wright WR/SS Nick Milcarek WR Kaalum Jones RB/LB Zach Ogbogu RB/DB Tre Drewery Stephen Erb

Year

No. Name

Position

Year

Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr.

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 42 44 45 46 47 48 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 58

WR/CB RB/FS RB

Jr. Jr. Jr.

LB/TE FB/LB

Sr. So. Sr.

QB

So.

CB/WR LB TE/DE

Sr. So. Jr.

TE/LB

So. Sr. So.

Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Sr.

Evan Gackeler Jake Rising Bennett Shoemaker Rex Aledia Chris Taylor Robert Riddle Jack McClure Thomas Tattersall Aryan Talla Kyle Flood Daniel Kim Khalil Burgess Max Proels Caleb Scheaffer Andrew Skelly Patrick Deans Jackson Miller Chris Killeen Josh Mullinix Grant Ward Brian Pickering Kade Bullard Sam Wilinski Kinser Borner Reid Pickering Jacob Pulliam

OL/DL C/DE OL OL OL/DL OL

So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr.

No. Name

59 60 61 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 72 73 75 76 77 79 80 81 82 83 87 88 89 90

Position

Harrison Stang OL Julian Yee OL/DL Justin Schneider OL/DL Matthew Taylor Daniel Park OL/DL Camden Sagues OL/DL Brenden Ross Ryan Mills OL/DL Paul Kim OL/DL Brendan Bibb OL Ross Mitchamore OL/DL Ethan Anderson OL Will Wood Arrison Cole OL/DL Eugene Kim OL Seth Malay Greg Steckel Blake Bibb CB/WR Nick Blaga Lucas Tellion Jorren VanderzandenTE/DL Nick Pasonski Jason Lu Nik Shelley OL

Year

Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr.

August 17. 2018 | Pigskin Preview |

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WEST FORSyTh WOlVERINES

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

The Wolverines are already a pretty shiny team, with all that gold in their uniforms, but a reflector screen certainly helps, too. Clockwise from top left: Jake Weldy, Stephon Bland, Zach Tryon, Abe Camara.

By David Almeda dalmeda@forsythnews.com

West Forsyth’s football team didn’t need a ton of adjustment time to get on the same page with new head coach Shawn Cahill.

In his first season at the helm, and with a new run-oriented offense, the Wolverines continued their history of regular season success by claiming their third straight 7-4 record. The season ended in the first round with a loss to Class 7A powerhouse Mill Creek, a game where the Wolverines were down just 10-0 at halftime.

“The kids probably played better than they were coached last year, from that learning curve itself,” Cahill said. “They maybe picked up the slack a little bit, but we were 7-4, and that’s what we earned last year.”

West loses some impact starters on both sides of the ball from last season, but could easily make another run to the playoffs with a good amount of returning talent, particularly on the defensive side.

Over the offseason, the Wolverines brought in Bill Ballard to replace David Rooney at defensive coordinator. On the personnel side, a few have made the move to new positions. Inspired by See WEST | 24

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

2017 RESulTS

2018 SChEdulE

7-4 overall, 3-2 Region 5-7A West 31, Woodstock 14 West 21, Pace Academy 14 Hillgrove 42, West 20 West 15, Dacula 9 West 20, Newnan 10 Milton 17, West 13* West 38, Central 19* West 28, Lambert 24* West 35, North 16* South 28, West 14* Mill Creek 29, West 14** *Region 5-7A game **GHSA playoff game

Aug. 17 at Camden County Aug. 31 vs Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) Sept. 7 vs Roswell Sept. 14 at Peachtree Ridge Sept. 21 at McCallie School (Tenn.)

Oct. 5 at Milton* Oct. 12 at Forsyth Central* Oct. 19 vs Lambert* Oct. 26 vs North Forsyth* Nov. 2 at South Forsyth* *Region 5-7A game

TROPhy CASE

ThE COACh

First varsity season: 2008 Playoff appearances: 7 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) Region titles: 1 (2012) State titles: none

At West: 7-4, second season Overall: 7-4, second season

Shawn Cahill

The The The biggest biggest biggest biggest impacts impacts impacts impacts don’t don’t don’t don’t happen happen happen happen on on onthe the the the field. field. field. field.

Character.

Character.

Character.

Character.

Teamwork.

Teamwork.

Teamwork.

Teamwork.

Community.

Community.

Community.

Community.

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PINECREST PAlAdINS

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

How does that look? Stone Brown, David Stubbs and Zach Schechtman are hoping their second season under head coach Terance Mathis turns out better than the first.

Cameron Adamczyk

For the Forsyth County News

When you hire an all-time great Atlanta Falcons wide receiver as your head coach, things change. Teams start to circle your game on the schedule. Players rally around the opportunity to say they beat you. The opposing crowd chants a little louder.

In Terance Mathis’ first year as the head coach of the Pinecrest Paladins, he realized all of that. In fact, he realized a lot more than that.

“It was a learning year,” Mathis said. “We inherited each other.

We went 0-10, but you couldn’t tell these guys it was a wasted season. I think we learned about each other. I think we grew together.”

You could feel the hype around the Paladins football team grow exponentially last season. But the hype didn’t result in wins.

Pinecrest failed to win a game in regulation – although the Paladins did get a victory over South via forfeit – but it was a season full of adjustments.

Pinecrest veered away from its patented wildcat style of offense to a new pro-style that Mathis installed. They had a large roster turnover from the season before, and the returning players knew how to play one specific style—their old one. It was a complete reset of the program at a time when eyeballs all over the state See PINECREST | 28

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

2017 RESulTS

1-9 overall, 0-7 Region 6-1A South 56, Pinecrest 10 (Won due to forfeit) Discovery 24, Pinecrest 0 Walker 35, Pinecrest 13* Mount Pigsah 55, Pinecrest 24* Mount Paran 41, Pinecrest 7* King’s Ridge 14, Pinecrest 7* Fellowship 41, Pinecrest 0 Whitefield 25, Pinecrest 7* St. Francis 28, Pinecrest 23* Oglethorpe County 36, Pinecrest 34 *Region 6-1A, Div. B game

TROPhy CASE First varsity season: 2004 Playoff appearances: 6 (2004*, 2005*, 2007*, 2008*, 2009*, 2014**, 2015**, 2016**) Region titles: 3 (2007*, 2009*, 2015**) State titles: none

2018 SChEdulE Aug. 24 vs Fellowship Christian* Aug. 31 vs Mount de Sales Sept. 7 at Athens Christian Sept. 14 at Whitefield Academy* Sept. 21 at Walker* Oct. 5 vs Mount Pisgah * Oct. 12 vs St. Francis* Oct. 19 at King’s Ridge* Oct. 26 vs Mount Paran* Nov. 2 Region 6-1A crossover *Region 6-1A, Div. B game

ThE COACh Terance Mathis

At Pinecrest: 1-9, second season Overall: 1-9, second season

Go Pinecrest Paladins!

Go Pinecrest Go Pinecrest Paladins!

Paladins!

Go Pinecrest Paladins!

Go Pinecrest Paladins!

PINECREST ACADEMY PALADINS 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEdULE:

“I’ve been a part of the Pinecrest family for the past 15 years and the football program has taught me so many life lessons. Life lessons such as loyalty, hard work and humility which I hope to take with me to college and beyond.”

- Colby Mangan, Pinecrest Senior

8/10 8/17 8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/26 11/2

Scrimmage - Riverside Military Academy Scrimmage @ Piedmont Academy Fellowship Christian School Mount de Sales Academy @ Athens Christian School @ Whitfield Academy @ The Walker School Bye Week Mount Pisgah Christian School St. Francis School @ Kings Ridge Christian School Mount Paran Christian School Crossover Game

955 Peachtree Parkway | Cumming, Georgia 30041 | pinecrestacademy.org Peachtree Parkway| |Cumming, Cumming, Georgia Georgia 30041 955955 Peachtree Parkway 30041 | |pinecrestacademy.org pinecrestacademy.org

2018 ROSTER No. Name

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Ryan Van Uum QB Tyreese Raftin RB Branden Redecker LB Bronson Landreth QB/DB Mitch Weber LB/WR Graham Long QB Nathan Nicholson RB Caydin Mowen DB/SB Ben Whatley RB Garrison Carver WR Christian Bedora DB Warren Walker RB Chris Thiltgen DB Tristen Rose DB Dalton Edmunds RB Kyle Zifchak RB Hunter Cagle QB/DB Owen Hosonitz RB Cody McCarthy DB Carter Rodriguez DB Eli Ruis RB Jake Stephens DB Dylon Mattis DB Brandon Dover DB Tyler Sherman OLB/K Solomon Gates RB Luis Algarin RB Patrick Leathers RB Payton Jeppson DB Riley Davison DB Dallas Partridge DB Devon Taylor RB James Davies DL

FROM 8

Central conditioning and strength. And in his third year with the program, he’s hoping a few more tweaks – a new offensive system and a new, but very familiar, name at defensive coordinator – can result in a breakthrough.

Defense is one area in which the Bulldogs could actually be one of the county’s stronger teams this year. In Jackson Leak and Mitch Weber, Central has two of the most productive defensive players in Region 5-7A, and the Bulldogs also return the majority of their defensive line.

And while he wishes he could have gotten it done three years ago, Hepler now has

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

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Bailey Piper RB Devran Orsan RB Ethan Young DB Emerson Wilkes LB Brody Palmer K Kyle Hawthorne DB Matt Johnson DL Jackson Leak LB/TE Conner Azar DB Issai Hernandez LB Andrew Bedora RB Noah Chol RB Davis Coats LB Keaton Platzke LB Isaac Brown LB Alex Szakacs DL Austin McKinzie LB Kyle Owenby LB Bryce Malone OL Chris Clapper OL Michael Page LB Nick Forrester LB Matt Dees OL Anthony Persichetti LB Paulo Souza LB Merek Moran LB Josh Pilkinton LB Joseph Noto LB Elijah Curtis LB Logan Andrews RB Blake Brown OL Haygen Rabendorf OL Darius Green OL

David Rooney, who coached with him at West, as defensive coordinator. Rooney brings the same multiplicity he implemented with the Wolverines, with his teams basing out of a 3-4 defense but working in plenty of alternate looks and wrinkles along the way. The system isn’t so complicated as to be a detriment to the team, though.

“Coach Rooney does a good job at how to get that across to these guys, keeping it simple,” Hepler said.

The danger of overthinking is part of what the Bulldogs’ new offense is trying to induce in opponents. Hepler looked at the task he had at Central like starting a new program, knowing how long the Bulldogs had been down – he got new uniforms, reorganized the weight room and got new locker

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Jason Garmon DL Alex Cruzado OL Brandon McDaniel OL/DL Brandon Coon DL Ricky Stever DE Inaki Otegui-Palladini DE Andreas Willis OL Ben Ranke OL Luke Morton OL Dylan Snyder OL Davis Mullivain OL Brandyn McMahon OL Garrett Nash OL James Cappelletti DE Ricky Bautista DL Javier Naverrette RB Jake Bretz WR Max Manus WR Angel Garcia DL Kade McGlumphy WR Alex Rosa SB Devin Hill WR Richard Pellini WR Zac Redecker OL Joseph Nix WR Fabian Martinez K Matt Shipley K Noah Schreiber LB Mason Shipley K Marco Ramirez OL/DL Nick Cribbs DL Matt Quinn DL Canaan Clark DL

rooms – but upon looking at the program’s past successes, he noticed that the option offense often went alongside that.

With the help of offensive coordinator Dustin Cannon, who ran a similar system when he was quarterback at Central late last decade, and inspiration from programs like Kennesaw State, Hepler has brought a system to the Bulldogs that’s unlike any other in the county.

The Bulldogs have a capably mobile quarterback in Hunter Cagle, an offensive line that returns most of its starters, and enough receivers to make the pass game still a threat. Hepler said that he’s already seen strong results from the offense, in the spring game against Alpharetta and during team camp.

“They did not like that,”

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Hepler said of opposing teams’ reactions. “I was like, all right, I like that! That’s an edge, maybe.”

The Bulldogs need every one of those that they can find. In recent years, they’ve been fighting smaller enrollment – they’ve been the smallest county school in their region – and lackluster recent history.

But with each year comes progress. Central is expecting some of that to finally show this year. “(Coach Hepler) has really gotten to know us (and) form relationships with a lot of us,” senior receiver/safety Dalton Edmunds said. “He knows what we need to work on, found out where our weaknesses are, where our strengths. So I think the third year coming in is probably going to be the best one yet with coach Hepler.”

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Peyton Wagner QB Jonathan Fleming DB Honus Wagner DB Charlie Aiken WR Jumel Lewis DB Carter Mullikin QB Tucker Hartsfield WR Nicky Dalmolin WR Tyler Hogan LB Brady Meitz QB Caleb Vercek WR Miles Hartsfield DB Austin Colon DB Jared Lucero LB Mason Mulnix QB Trevor Morone WR Andrew MersbergerWR Jaiden Davis RB Thierry Souffrant WR Jack Duckwall LB Riley Alston WR Bryson Trigg RB Giovanni Gomez DB Jason Oppenheim DB Bryce Touchstone DB Mike Benjamin RB Tucker Todd TE Cade Constable RB

FROM 8

North Catching up to the titans of Reg ion 5 -7A do esn’t just apply to what happens on the field. To North, that starts in the weight room, improving on an aspect of the team that has been lacking in recent years.

“I think the biggest thing is going to be our strength,” Cra f t sa id. “We feel li ke we’ve been really playing catch-up to a lot of folks in our league in that regard.

That doesn’t happen overn ight — that’s someth ing where it really takes consistent work in the weight room day in and day out.”

To get back to the playoffs, the Raiders will be relying largely on their offense, an air raid attack that scored the

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Zack McKinzie Colin Blackwell Rodney Parry Kolten Dickerson Nicholas Viens Cameron Wiggins Aaron Griffin Jacob Musulman Blaine Kirkland Jaten Sunkara Thor Billstrom Jack Tucker Grant Scalia Brent Grab Noah Macias Max Bryant Carson Brown Kohnor Martin Lukas Swygman Ethan Kimbarl Dylan Lurie Will Barton Slade Gravitt Jackson Romero Josh Monroe Blake Gibson Bryce Golden Samuel Tompkins

third-most points in school history last year. Leading that unit was prolific quarterback Ben Ba les, who has now moved on. Set to replace him under center is senior Carter Mullikin, who has experience pl ay i n g q u a r t e r b a c k b u t moved over f rom playi ng safety last season.

“It’s big shoes to fill, but I’m not r e a l ly wor r ie d ,” Mullikin said. “I’m not going to pressure myself to live up to ( Ben) be cause I k now we’ve got returners all over t he f ield. We’re goi ng to spread it out, I’m going to get the ball to as many people as I can and let them do the work.”

Mullikin will have quite the assor tment of weapons to cho os e f r om . T h r e e -ye a r starters Charlie Aiken (40 catches, 721 yards, 5 TD) and Nicky Dalmolin (51 catches, 585 yards, 4 TD) will return

TE DB RB LB DB LB LB DB LB WR K LB LB OL DL DL LB DL OL OL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL DL

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Position Year

Zachary Allison OL Ryan Foust OL Connor Ramey OL Elijah Byrd OL Blake Edwards DL Auston Gadison DL Jason Kingsley OL Stiegal Brock OL Zachary Salvador DL Mason Butcher DL Austin Kimbarl DL Harrison Allen OL Justin Chavez OL Jeremy James OL Nate Smith DL Caleb Crozier DB Joshua Sexton WR Jackson Rosebush WR Josh Grindle TE Cayce Aldridge WR Grayson Busse WR Cole Cagle WR Nick Janik WR Grant Sarbon TE Ian Kermicle K Josh Swearingen K Jared Costello DL

out wide.

“We’re excited to see some of the new guys,” Craft said.

“Surely, Nicky and Charlie are going to take a lot of the attention (and) deservedly so.

They’ve done a great job for us — we feel like they’re very good threats out wide on the perimeter, but we’re excited to see some of the new guys that will step up.”

Senior Bryson Trigg will return as the team’s primary running back after rushing for 928 yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries during his junior campaign. His and Mu l l i k i n’s p e r fo r m a n c e s could be bolstered by a big and exper ienced offensive line, led by senior Ole Miss commit Jeremy James.

O n t h e d efe n sive sid e, Nor th will only have two returning starters, contrasting w it h t h e of fen s e’s s even r e t u r n e r s . S e n io r H o nu s

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Wagner (78 tackles, 61 solo, 6 TFL, 4 INT) will be a key player manning the seconda r y, a s w i l l s e n io r Jo n Fleming at cornerback.

With all the work he’s seen during the offseason and all the big names he still has on his roster, Craft has a good feeling about the 2018 team.

The Raiders now have playoff experience under their belt; the next logical step for North would be hosting a home playof f ga me, or perhaps something even greater.

“This year will be different — we hope to be back again w it h t hat opp or t u n it y i n November, to have a chance to play,” Craft said. “We have a lot of work to do before we get there, but it’ll be different.”

August 17. 2018 | Pigskin Preview |

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2018 ROSTER No. Name

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Position

Stephon Bland RB/LB Saxby Waxer RB/SB Abraham Camara S/WR Mikhari Sibblis LB/DE Drew Southern QB Alex Parris CB Casey Cowart QB Easton Baggett CB/S Matthew Wright WR/QB Jack Hughes LB Corey Culberson CB Blake Whitfield QB Curtis Ekokobe CB/SS Eli Orr LB Garrett Woodall TE/LB Ethan Avila WR/CB Jake Cummings LB/SS McCay Kirley WR K.C. Flanagan Myles Blythe Oscar Delp WR/LB Ricky Zachoiski WR Parker Hannon K/P Luke Scussel CB Ty Sherman K/OLB Coby Haynes Konnor Bishop WR/CB JohnMark Harter WR/CB Zachariah Claiborne LB/TE Zack Webster RB Alex Alvarado RB/P

FROM 18

West watching him play basketball, Cahill moved Mikhari Sibblis (77 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT last season) to linebacker from defensive end. Jake Weldy (88 tackles, 4 TFL) will move to a role on the defensive line. It’s all a part of an effort to get quicker.

“We took kids that can run,” Cahill said. “We weren’t so concerned about being big, just being faster.”

Elsewhere on the defense, s e n io r Ab r a h a m C a m a r a returns at defensive back, coming off a first team all-county junior season with 94 tackles, five pass break-ups and two interceptions.

“Even though I’m an offensive coach, I’m going to put my

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

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TE LB/RB RB/LB LB/RB QB QB SS CB LB/RB LB CB DE LB/WR DE/LB LB/DE DT/G

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68 69 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 92 93 95 96 97 98 99

OL OL OL OL OL OL T OL T/G G WR WR/FS WR/RB TE WR/LB WR TE OLB WR WR DE DT S DT TE/DT DE

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Micah Bealer Jacob Weldy Miller Jones Dalton Tjong Jonathan Garbacz Emi Gonzalez Dominic Cooper Kye Britt Wesley Clark Tyler Norr Thomas Greschner Kyle Peterson Hudson Posey Robert Bain Jermaine Harris David Carrillo Dylan Fairchild Aiden Phillips Will Knieper Carter Cherry Zach Tryon Jake Huggins Spencer Bovenizer Garett Hickman Alex Steele Garrett Hair Hunter McBrayer Aidan Bailey Derek Hughes Ethan Casas Avery Blackman

hat on defense,” Cahill said.

“We’re going to be a strong defensive team and we’re going to run the football.”

Leading that rushing attack this year will be a couple of other returning players in new positions. Sen ior Stephon Bland will be the primary ball carrier, moving to that spot from wide receiver. Derek Hughes will play fullback, transitioning from offensive guard after losing 20 pounds in the offseason. Hughes has been pleased to see how both sides of the ball have played off each other in practice.

“I def i n it ely t h i n k ou r defense has prepa red our offense more this season,” Hughes said. “With all the people that (Ballard) is bringing, we can go anywhere from three to eight people. It helps our offense adjust well, and it’s going to help us during the

NG/T DE/G LB C/TE DE/DT LB LB LB G C OL/DL FB G DL

Chris McDaniel Sam Kenareh Austin Christian David Bowman J.R. Reis Walker Mull Alexander Tapia Will Slaughter Arad Yavarian Andrew Rogers Anthony Merriman Lance Corcimiglia William Phipps Mack Park Jon Voigt Justin Thombley Jacob Phipps Dylan Ray T.J. Jennings Antonio Hernandez Jamison O’Dell Matthew Anthony Jocef Garza Joshua Godfrey Anthony Nagro Mason Williams Tyler Seder Sean O’Neill Netanel Gedion Jonathan Sanchez

regular season.”

With the departure of Zach Burns, the Wolverines, like most other schools in the county, had to replace their starting quarterback from a year ago.

After a lengthy competition, junior Blake Whitfield earned the right to the starting job on opening night. However, at the 2018 Forsyth Sports Media day, Cahill pointed out that his position was not set in stone like Burns’ was, with junior Casey Cowart also being a st rong opt ion for t he Wolverines.

While the passing game is not necessarily where the Wolverines place their focus offensively, they’ll be looking to some young starters at wideout to help keep defenses honest. KC Flanigan comes over to West after being the quarterback at King’s Ridge last season. Freshman Oscar Delp is

DE/NG NG

another weapon that the coaching staff has taken a liking to.

A main issue the offense will have to contend with is the loss of Ben Bresnahan, who has moved on to Vanderbilt after being one of the country’s top tight ends last year. Army commit and senior tight end Garrett Woodall figures to make up for a lot of that lost production, but the Wolverines don’t see Bresnahan’s void as something one man can fill himself.

“You don’t replace Ben,” Cahill said. “I wish I could.

Garrett’s going to kind of fit in at the tight end spot a little bit more than Ben did last year, but we’re still going to split him out. We’re still going to put him at H because that’s what Garrett did really well last year.

West Forsyth

Football

2018

Ben Hendren for the Forsyth County News

Denmark head coach Terry Crowder is charged with setting the groundwork for the Danes’ program; Frank Hepler, now the head coach at Forsyth Central, can speak to doing that at multiple schools.

WhAT’S NEW IS...Old?

Those interested in what the future holds for a brand-new program like Denmark don’t need to look far for a few clues.

By David Almeda dalmeda@forsythnews.com

Terry Crowder doesn’t feel sorry for anyone.

As the former head coach at Chattahoochee, he had to deal with new schools opening up around him and taking the program’s talent. None of that stopped him from winning the 2008 Class 4A state title.

In becoming the first head coach at the newly-christened Denmark High School, Crowder is suddenly finding himself on the other side of that coin, with the Danes filling their roster with players from South Forsyth and West Forsyth. Even when he takes his previous experience coping with new programs into account, he doesn’t feel bad for his counterparts in the slightest.

“If you coach in metro Atlanta, you’d better expect this to happen,” Crowder said at the 2018 Forsyth Sports Media Day. “It’s just growing so fast.”

Denmark isn’t the first school in recent years to go through the grind of being a first-year program in Forsyth County, with West and Lambert both opening within the last 15 years. It’s also not the first time that any of the existing campuses around the area will have to endure the challenge of having young talent ripped away.

When Crowder accepted the task of starting a program from the ground up, he quickly realized the gravity of what he signed up for. There could be no pointing fingers at a past regime and no blame to be directed to coaches he didn’t want there. Whatever was created, good or bad, was on him and his staff.

“The biggest difference that I can see when you come in is what you don’t inherit,” he said. “I’m not inheriting any problems. I didn’t inherit any bad coaches. I got to get those guys that I wanted. That’s the biggest pleasant surprise that I’ve had.”

While Crowder was able to shape the coaching staff in every way that he wanted, the players were a different story. Many of them did not choose to leave their previous schools. The vast majority came from South, and transitioning to a new, smaller program from a bigger, recently successful one was not an easy

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

prospect for them at first.

“All of our players who were newly districted at Denmark, we didn’t really want to go,” junior linebacker Nick Carozza said.

“We were not looking forward to it. We didn’t know what the coaches were going to be like or anything. When coach Crowder met with us, that really changed our minds. We sat down with (the coaches) and they really knew what they were talking about, and that’s what pushed us forward to commit to Denmark.”

Most of the players South lost were underclassmen, but the War Eagles didn’t escape redistricting unscathed, with Carozza and highly-touted junior receiver Ze’Vian Capers both leaving for Denmark.

“That’s the hand we were dealt,” South head coach Jeff Arnette said. “That happened several months ago. Since that day, it’s been focusing on the team we’ve got. To be honest with you, it’s probably been as good an offseason as we’ve had. Teenagers forget quick. Coaches have to forget quick.”

Frank Hepler, the current head coach at Forsyth Central, has the most experience founding new football programs of anyone in the county, having been the first head coach at West when it opened in 2007 and then in 2015 accepting the head coaching job at Discovery High School in Gwinnett County, starting that program before taking the open Central job prior to the season.

“It’s a process,” Hepler said. “I know coach Crowder’s going through it right now. Thinking back at when we went to West, I remember little things like, we got 10 boxes one day with 100 helmets in it, and the facemasks weren’t on. We had to sit there and put all the facemasks on. It took three days to put all the facemasks on the helmets. Those are little things you don’t think about with football, but you’re ordering socks, you’re ordering decals. There’s so many things that you have to do when you open up a program.”

One of the other aspects of a new program that Hepler discovered was the difference in timelines. While established programs can begin preparing for the next season after the current one ends, See NEW | 28

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2018 ROSTER No. Name

Position

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TE/DE DB/RB WR/DB QB/DB K WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB DB/WR WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB K

Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr.

24 25 30 35 40 41 42 50 51 55 56 58 60

RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB OL/DL K LB WR/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL LB OL/DL OL/DL

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OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/LB OL/DL TE/DE

Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Fr.

Patrick Sullivan Jimmy Dinsmore Bryce Balthaser Ryan DiFazio Colin Brown Colby Mangan Breckin Barbee Ethan Massey Gabe Rodriguez Sawyer Huffstetler Peter Hoover Tripp Hochman Connor Sassine

FROM 20

Pinecrest were watching.

As the season progressed, the improvement in the team was clear to see. After suffering some huge losses in the beginning of the season, their last two games both ended with one-score deficits.

Over the offseason, Mathis brought on former NFL player and defensive coordinator Tim Lewis to assist in the team’s reshaping. Lewis was the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, and he has already made his experience felt.

“You can feel his affect right

FROM 20

New Hepler’s Wolverines had to wait until May, when the new players came in. That left months of catching up to do.

A key difference between Denmark and the last two Forsyth schools that have opened is the initial competition level. West and Lambert both had JV schedules during their first seasons.

For Hepler, playing a varsity schedule during his first year

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

Ryan Bartling Sam Mauldin James Black Zach Novo Lewis Diaz Jesus Villarreal Tony Novo Peter Haynes Michael Soukup Stone Brown Joey Kiernan Zach Schechtman Tyler Murawski

Matt Del Balzo Tyler Schmidt Zach Haynes Jackson Mueller Sean Pfiel Tommy Soukup William Bradford Billy Bear David Stubbs J.P. Rodriguez John Stubbs

away,” Mathis said, “on campus, with the players. You can feel it.”

Pinecrest undoubtedly has the most high-profile coaching staff, but former NFL players can’t win football games by themselves.

The new offense has a new face this season. After playing the majority of games as only a safety last year, Ryan DiFazio took over at quarterback late in the season. In the last two games of the year, DiFazio threw for over 500 yards and had seven all purpose touchdowns.

“He’s a high IQ young man.

I love it,” said Mathis. “It’s almost like he’s in my head, and it’s fun to watch him throw the ball around and operate our offense.”

DiFazio adds another level to their offense. He can throw the ball, but his background in the triple option offense has led to DiFazio becoming a dualthreat quarterback. His two starts last year were the only t wo ga m e s t h e Pa l a d i n s eclipsed 20 points. With an entire off season to focus on improving at quarterback and learning the new scheme, the low-scoring nature of Pinecrest’s 2017 campaign looks to be reversed.

“It was definitely a change at first especially after being used to the triple option,” said DiFazio. “Now that we’ve gotten used to it and worked on it this past year, we definitely have it under our belts now.”

Defensively, both Mathis and Lewis have been impressed

with senior Stone Brown.

Brown commands the defensive line, a group crucial to success in run-heavy Class A. “He’s our do-all, be-all,” said Mathis. “The first time I met Stone I saw him and I asked ‘who’s that guy that looks like a superhero?’ And that’s what he’s been for us: a superhero.”

Pinecrest’s defense allowed 35 or more points six times last season, but the coaching staff is confident that the defense is adapting just as quickly as their offense.

The 2018 season is no longer a reset year for Pinecrest. They have a large group of seniors who are ready to forget about their winless season and start to rebrand themselves to match their high-caliber coaching staff.

leading the Wolverines would have been an unenviable task, and he was pleased to have a full year where his team could just focus on itself. West and Lambert both went 8-2 in their first varsity seasons in 2008 and 2010, respectively, and Hepler credits the year playing JV for much of West’s early varsity success.

“At West , I h a d never opened a program, so we were lucky to stay as a JV schedule that first year,” he said. “We did play two varsity games against East Jackson, but they were a smaller school that was fairly new also. Some guys

might like the fact that, ‘Hey, we’re going right into varsity.

We can sell that.’ I think it just depends on the coach.”

Crowder and the Danes will not have the same luxury.

Den ma rk wil l i nstead be thrown right into the varsity f lames, albeit in a smaller class. That doesn’t mean their region will be a walk: The Da nes will be competing alongside Blessed Trinity and Marist, who both played in last season’s Class 4A state championship game.

How Denmark will respond to playing a varsity schedule in its first year remains to be

seen. The Danes have a handful of talented upperclassmen, but much of the team will consist of freshmen and sophomores who have never competed under the Friday night lights. With everything set for t h ei r f i r st ga m e a ga i n st Cherokee Bluff, all that’s left for the Danes to do is to unite under one banner.

“The hard thing is there was a closeness with these kids to the schools that they’ve been at,” Crowder sa id. “W hat we’ve tried to do is establish, ‘We’re Denmark now, and we’re proud of who we are.’”

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FROM 20

Denmark the offense as the first starting quarterback in Denmark history. He already has some past experience with his receivers, which the Danes hope will translate to success in the spread attack they’ll be running.

“We’ve known each other

FROM 20

Lambert Lambert may not have the Division I talent that they have had in past years at big positions, but Daniel and the rest of the roster embraces that.

“What I love about this football team is that we don’t have that one position group,” he explained. “We don’t have this stable of running backs or this strong offensive line. We have a lot very good football players, and they’re competing.”

One position group that has been competing all spring has been the quarterbacks. After last season where no clear answer emerged, they knew to spawn the leader they needed it had to be by competition.

Leading the pack so far has

FROM 20

South the War Eagles’ defense: Jamal Camp, a recent Georgia Tech commit, and Luis Gonzalez are set to hold down the defensive line; Jack Pehrson, an All-FCN first teamer last fall, returns at safety; and Landon Sims, who received the same recognition at safety, returns for his third year starting at that spot.

On offense, senior Drew Morris is set to step in at quarterback. Morris can’t necessarily be classified as a returning starter — his older brother, Cal, was the War Eagles’ first-

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| Pigskin Preview | August 17. 2018

since the eighth grade and ever since then, we’ve always had a chemistry,” Capers said of Whitlock. “Since the summer has started with 7-on-7s, our chemistry has gotten a lot better. He knows how to put the ball in the right spot. His arm has gotten stronger. He’s getting more mobile, he’s getting more athletic, his footwork has gotten better. We are all confident in what Ben is going to do on Fridays.”

While the focus will mostly

be on the upperclassmen to lead the charge, there are still some sophomores in the mix that could contribute. Crowder says that in order for the Danes to compete, that group will have to play at a level beyond their years. Zach Burchfield and his 6-foot-2 frame will be a key player at linebacker alongside Carozza. At running back, Devin duCille has been turning some heads as he’s gotten his first real workload.

“He has grown tremendous-

ly,” Capers said. “I didn’t think he would be as good as he is now.”

Crowder has amassed a 91-62 record as a head coach.

He’s coached all of his teams in the same way, and it’s the way he plans to lead the Danes, regardless of their circumstances.

“My thing was, ‘Who do you expect to beat us?’” Crowder said. “I’m going to coach to win a state championship this year. If you don’t think about

been junior Peyton Rich.

Rich took over last season after Bobby Gabriel struggled to get the offense moving. In the six games he played in, Rich tallied 750 yards and two touchdowns. Other names vying for the spot have been sophomore Logan Wire and junior Ethan Thibodeaux, who both got reps in the spring game.

A staple of the Lambert offense since its conception has been a strong running game.

The talent that has passed through the Lambert backfield has been impressive. One of those names was reigning FCN Offensive Player of the Year Marcus Chatelain.

Chatelain took over the bulk of the offensive duties last season, leading the county with 1,283 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Replacing

Chatelain is one of the biggest tasks for Lambert this season.

There has been some promise found in senior back Drew Docktor and a sophomore runner Zach Ogbogu.

Last season, the Longhorns looked at cornerback Ken Dicks III, a Wake Forest signee, to lead their defense. This season, they turn to Chris Taylor. Taylor can line up on the defensive line, but he spends a majority of his snaps at middle linebacker. As a junior, he racked up 68 total tackles, and he looks to build on that this season.

Another hole that Lambert has to sure up is place kicker.

Bryce Christensen consistently delivered big time points over his career. He was automatic on extra points and could threaten on field goals from 45 yards. Replacing the reliability

is going to be tough, but Daniel ex p r e s s e d c o n fi d e n c e i n “swiss-army knife” Drew Docktor to take over.

This year’s schedule for Lambert is challenging. They open the season playing five out of region opponents that have all established themselves as top football programs in the state. Their region play doesn’t let up either. They play rival South Forsyth at home to open region play before going to North Forsyth, West Forsyth and Milton in three consecutive weeks.

If Lambert is going to emerge from the region, it’s going to have to answer a lot of questions and fill a lot of holes.

But this underdog Longhorns team intends to re-establish itself not with one player, but as a whole.

stringer last year — but he started for South as a sophomore when initial starter Davis Shanley and Cal Morris both went down with injuries, and Drew Morris led South to a win over West in their final regular-season contest.

With Morris locking down the job early, a less experienced South offense has benefitted from the stability.

“When you’ve got a quarterback that didn’t have to prove himself, (and) the kids already believe in him, I think it shows in the way we look offensively this early,” Arnette said.

Most of South’s returning experience on offense will be playing right next to Morris.

Rogers is set to reprise the full-

back/tailback role he’s played for the past two years, and junior Jordan Brunson, who played second-string tailback to Jared Honey last fall, will step into the spot vacated by the graduated senior.

South hasn’t lacked success in recent years: The War Eagles have been region champs two of the past three years, with 2017’s only regular-season loss coming from a forfeit to Pinecrest Academy.

The way that most recent season ended — a first-round playoff loss to Mountain View, a No. 4 seed — is just more motivation And looking at the season from that vengeance-based perspective might be even less

charitable to South than to focus on the losses to Denmark. Region 5-7A is matched this year with Region 8, which includes two of the best programs in the country in Archer and Grayson. An exceptionally difficult matchup likely awaits Region 5’s No. 3 or 4 seed.

But the team’s day-to-day thinking is purposefully narrow, so as not to think about that potential matchup, or the departures to Denmark, or the graduation of a tough-to-follow senior class.

“We just want to be the best South Forsyth team we can be,” Camp said. “We’re not trying to follow in anybody’s footsteps.”

BEST IS THE STANDARD

GO RAIDERS

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