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A regular section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.

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Northwest Vikings ready to host season opener

New coach, QB-WR duo among top storylines

by KELLEN HOLTZMAN

NW GUILFORD – Northwest Guilford High’s new head football coach, Chris Rusiewicz, can think of at least 10 reasons why Vikings supporters should be excited about this season, which kicks off 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at home against Burlington Williams of the 3A (East) Central Conference.

Northwest racked up 10 wins last season, the most for the program since 2013, while also matching its best postseason output in a decade. The Vikings finished one win shy of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state quarterfinals.

“They’re coming off 10 wins, so I hope there’s excitement in that alone,” Rusiewicz said. “I hope we continue to do that for [the fans], give them some excitement out here just by putting points on the board and having the defense do their job and shutting people down.”

5 SEASON STORYLINES New coach

He’s new to Northwest, but Rusiewicz is a familiar name in Guilford County, having earned the Guilford College football program’s all-time highest winning percentage in his

10-year tenure with the Quakers that concluded in 2020.

Rusiewicz next joined Northern Guilford High as an assistant coach before serving as the Greensboro College defensive coordinator through last fall.

B-C connection

Quarterback Tanner Ballou to receiver Trenton Cloud. If fans — and Metro Conference opponents — aren’t used to those names yet, they should be soon. Ballou finished last season ranked eighth in 4A passing yards (2,639) and 11th in total yards (2,757) while Cloud was eighth in receiving yards (1,003) with a team-high 13 touchdowns.

Expect junior receivers Quincy Bell Jr. and Prince Brown, and freshman Rakeem Hammock to also play key roles.

Breakout potential

If anyone is poised for a breakout campaign, it could be senior Malique Jones, a Western Guilford High transfer.

Jones will look for space between and around the likes of returning offensive line starters Collin Shokes, a junior left tackle, and senior left guard Parker McCall.

Rusiewicz said the Vikings average 300 pounds on the right side of the line and 265 pounds with veterans Shokes and McCall. If the line can build consistency, particularly at center, then look for players like Jones and Ryan Debow to exploit defenses.

Defensive prowess

Northwest’s returning defensive leaders include standout junior safety Debow and senior linebackers Thomas Orrell and Andrew Dover, but each of the seasoned Viking defenders have assumed new roles in Rusiewicz’s 4-2 scheme, which employs five defensive backs and two linebackers.

Conference superiority

On reputation alone, Grimsley is the team to beat in Northwest’s Metro Conference, but could the Whirlies be challenged by the Vikings again? Or will a different team enter the fray?

“… I think it all starts with getting to the playoffs,” Rusiewicz said of longterm goals. “And winning a conference championship would be great, because that would mean beating a state championship qualifier in Grimsley.

“But, you’ve gotta win ‘em all to get to that point,” he added.