Football 2014: Habersham Central optimistic that rebound is in the cards

MOUNT AIRY -- If ever a team has thirsted for a rebound, Habersham Central is it.<br /> <br /> The Raiders are coming off one victory over the last two campaigns -- spent amongst some of the behemoths of the largest classification in the state in Region 7-AAAAAA.<br /> <br /> Thanks to a number of starters returning, a dedicated core of upperclassmen and a shift from 7 to 6-AAAAAA, Habersham believes that rebound is on the way.<br /> <br /> "They've put in the work, and the kids can see we're heading in the right direction," second year head coach Michael Pollock said. "Even through the hard times last season we saw kids that never gave up, they kept fighting -- even when they knew the odds. We feel we are a better team now."<br /> <br /> <iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/103457844?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="280" height="210" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <br /> <br /> With eight starters back on offense, Habersham certainly believes it has the right components to improve a unit that struggled to score in 2013, averaging 6.2 points per game.<br /> <br /> For the Raiders it all starts up front, as Habersham returns all five starters on the offensive line in seniors Corey Robinson and Ryan Kelly and juniors Bailey Holbrook, Clay Nelson and Carson Ivester.<br /> <br /> The unit will protect a new starter at quarterback, as senior Bennett Black gets back on the field after missing last year through an injury sustained in a preseason scrimmage.<br /> <br /> "He's a tremendous leader and commands the huddle," Pollock said of Black. "He's worked tremendously hard this offseason. We had to revamp a lot of things last season, and we feel we're much further ahead this year."<br /> <br /> Black will have a veteran fullback behind him in Bryson Browner, along with returning starters at receiver John David Herrin and Marcus Wilbanks. Sophomore Michael Babers will also play a key role at tailback -- part of a large and talented sophomore group.<br /> <br /> "We had a very successful ninth grade team last year; there was 48-50 kids on the team and they beat lot of local teams like Flowery Branch and White County," Pollock said. "And we have a lot of talented sophomores now."<br /> <br /> Defensively, the Raiders return just four starters at their same position, though they have made some changes to the unit in order to get more speed on the field and are excited about the alterations.<br /> <br /> Junior Cody Patterson will lead the defense from his outside linebacker position, while Hunter Williams will hold down the inside. Sidney Cantrell and Carson Bennett will anchor the defensive line -- though Habersham would like to develop more depth in the trenches.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile Braxton Cole -- a running back last season -- has moved to outside linebacker and Steven Loudermilk has joined the team to lock down the strong safety position. Jeremy Jones has also impressed this preseason to nab a starting position at cornerback.<br /> <br /> It is a group that will be tested by Region 6-AAAAAA offenses, and while the region may not have the reputation of 7-AAAAAA, Pollock believes there is more than enough talent to go around in the league -- largely made up of Forsyth County and north Fulton County squads.<br /> <br /> "When you're facing teams with 60 seniors like we did last year it doesn't take a genius to figure out that's a tough situation. The teams we're facing now will be more like us numbers-wise," Pollock said. "But this region also has great coaches, and there will be no easy games."<br /> <br /> Habersham couldn't care less. Easy or not, the Raiders are simply ready to get back on the field and begin what they hope is a fightback.