north forsyth raiders
2021 schedule
Aug. 20 – Alcovy at North Forsyth Aug. 27 – North Forsyth at Harrison Sept. 3 – Dalton at North Forsyth Sept. 10 – Etowah at North Forsyth *Sept. 17 – North Forsyth at Denmark Sept. 23 – BYE *Oct. 1 – West Forsyth at North Forsyth *Oct. 8 – Forsyth Central at North Forsyth *Oct. 15 – North Forsyth at Lambert Oct. 22 – BYE *Oct. 29 – North Forsyth at South Forsyth *Nov. 5 – Gainesville at North Forsyth Jacob Smith Forsyth County News
North Forsyth seniors Jonah Sexton, left, and Patrick Corrigan are two of 26 seniors on an experienced Raiders squad this season.
Senior-laden North Forsyth is eager for playoff appearance By David Roberts
droberts@forsythnews.com
T h e m a ke u p o f N o r t h Forsyth’s football team will mirror that of its quarterback. Tough, hard-nosed and eager. Quarterback Drew Aucoin played special teams last year, and head coach Robert Craft says that the Raiders’ coaching staff jokes that Aucoin would start at linebacker if he wasn’t the quarterback. “Drew’s been in our program for four years. He’s played a bunch on Friday nights in some special teams roles,” Craft said. “Our defensive coordinator jokes all the time that if he wasn’t our starting quarterback, he’d be starting at linebacker, probably. That just shows you his physical toughness, but also his mental toughness. I think as a quarterback you’ve got to have that, because you’re going to
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2021 pigskin preview
have some ups and you’re going to have some downs at that position.” Aucoin will have the luxury of lining up behind an experienced offensive line. Left tackle Elisha Samples is committed to East Carolina and right guard Elijah Edwards is committed to Mercer. Eli Tompkins and Greg Toll occupy the other guard and tackle positions, but Craft said much of the offensive line’s experience begins with center JT Francis. “It’s a group that our two offensive line coaches – Coach Cecil Flowe and Coach Blake Palmer – have really been grooming for the last several years,” Craft said. “Really, all of them played significantly last year – some even as sophomores. We took some lumps a little bit at times the last few years being younger, but it’s their time. They’re leaders of our football team, starting with
JT as a center. Naturally, that guy commands a lot of respect, and he lives up to what we ask him to do.” Francis [92 percent] and Tompkins [90 percent] were the Raiders’ top-graded offensive linemen last season. Riley Smith, a Charleston Southern commit, is one of three senior tight ends and caught a team-high three touchdowns last season. Smith’s 13 receptions for 198 yards leads all returning receivers. Junior Garrett Achilles caught 16 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown last season and is a candidate to replace the production of Tucker Hartsfield, whose 38 catches for 549 yards led the team. “Garrett’s going to have a big year,” Craft said. “He’s worked really hard and played a key role for us last year as a See NORTH | 23
*Region 6-7A game
2020 results 6-4 Overall, 2-4 Region 6-7A North Forsyth 28, Alcovy 3 North Forsyth 10, Harrison 9 North Forsyth 28, Hapeville Charter 14 North Forsyth 28, Etowah 0 *Denmark 20, North Forsyth 10 *North Forsyth 24, West Forsyth 10 *Forsyth Central 28, North Forsyth 27 *North Forsyth 34, Lambert 20 *South Forsyth 52, North Forsyth 7 *Gainesville 17, North Forsyth 0 *Region 6-7A game
trophy case
First varsity season: 1994 Playoff appearances: 9 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2019) Region titles: 1 (2001) State titles: 0
the coach Robert Craft
At North: 25-30, sixth season Overall: 74-49, 12th season Fall 2021
