Youth Sync

Nighthawks are young, but talented

Senior linebacker Lewis among leaders

by KELLEN HOLTZMAN

Despite an uncharacteristic losing season (4-6 overall) last year, Northern Guilford head football coach Erik Westberg has a locker room full of players that expect to win. Some of the older players saw playing time two years ago when the Nighthawks went 9-2, and Northern is bringing along a group of underclassmen that contributed to an 8-2 junior varsity season last year and an undefeated middle school campaign prior to that.

“When we have a losing season, that’s a bad year for us,” Westberg said. “Our expectation is to win games, but we also want to develop our kids and develop the program, and that’s what we do here –starting with their ninth-grade year, we want to see them all the way out, through their senior year… If you’re doing that, you’re going to win football games.”

The Nighthawks open the regular season Friday, Aug. 18, at home against Eastern Guilford. Despite so many younger players being on the roster, Westberg says he has a talented team and he’s been encouraged by their approach throughout the preseason.

5 SEASON STORYLINES Repetition, time – and patience

Northern features only a handful of seniors starting on either side of the ball, but Westberg credited his squad for being tough and coachable.

Experience can only come with repetition and time.

“They just have to continue to grow and get better each week and each day,” Westberg said. “What’s gonna happen when it gets physically hard out there for them? Are they going to be able to overcome those things? It’s tough when you’re a little bit younger, playing at the varsity level. It’s a high level, especially in 4A, in our conference, but I think they can handle it.”

“It’s mainly just getting back to tradition,” added senior linebacker Franklin Lewis, “because we’re not really used to losing.”

Potential standouts

The most experienced returning players include Lewis, who was second on the team in total tackles last season, junior receiver Reggie King Jr., who started as a sophomore, and senior defensive end Myron Tetteh.

Also returning are sophomore Cohen Muse — as a receiver, defensive back, kicker, and punter — and junior Jaden McInnis at running back and linebacker. In the trenches

Anchored by sophomore center Sam Bagley, the offensive line is expected to be one of Northern’s strongest units, and also includes returning starter Dylan Miller and Mason Whitt, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound tackle on both sides of the ball receiving Division I interest and coming off an injury-shortened 2022 season. ...continued on p. 34