OAKWOOD -- Youth was served at Johnson in 2013, and it wasn't always easy. <br />
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In 2014, that youth is ready to show it has grown up -- 13 of 22 starters return -- and build on the lessons of last year.<br />
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"Last year to say we were young was an understatement," Knights coach Jason Roquemore said. "We had to endure some growing pains, and we were physically out-matched in some games. But we're moving forward now, and those kids are determined to battle this season, to win every day on the practice field and make the next step.<br />
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"These kids compete their butts off every day."<br />
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That attitude, combined with hard-earned experience, is a big reason why the Knights believe they will improve on last year, which included a 2-8 record -- although it was a mark that was just 12 points removed from 5-5.<br />
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"It was tough, but you have to go through that to truly enjoy 6-4, 7-3," Roquemore said. "We've just got to stay the course."<br />
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Despite the record, the Knights showed improvement throughout the campaign -- those 12 combined points all came in losses in the last three games of the season -- and Johnson hopes to build on that in 2014.<br />
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"We had one of the most physical springs I've ever been around," Roquemore said. "The rising juniors (Johnson's biggest class) we have now were freshmen when we came in, and they know now what we expect of them, and we can address things right away with that group if we see something going wrong at practice." <br />
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What Johnson wants to do on the field is to run the ball and stop the run, and the Knights believe they have many of the tools to do just that -- including a deep group of running backs.<br />
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Fullback Kavin Hopkins and slotbacks Eric Gallardo, Hunter Johnson and Javier Silva will all take turns sharing the load, along with Chase Sims at quarterback -- part of seven returning starters on offense. <br />
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"We never played well at once as an offense last year; the line might play well one week, the backs the next and the receivers the next," Roquemore said. "This year the staff has done a great job of harping on fundamentals, and if we can be fundamentally sound, we will all start playing as a unit."<br />
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Meanwhile, the Knights defense will feature a gritty and athletic front line that will be aided by an athletic and experienced secondary. With 20 starts already under his belt junior safety Orion Pittman is a leader and has the ability to run with receivers or stuff the ground game. <br />
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The biggest area of concern is the linebacking corps, where senior Jesse Griggs has dropped back from his previous spot on the defensive line to lead an inexperienced group from the middle linebacker position.<br />
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"He's a leader and an anchor," Roquemore said of Griggs.<br />
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With a slate that includes a number of northeast Georgia programs -- last year the Knights were forced to take on a number of programs from the Atlanta area -- Roquemore knows his team will be tested.<br />
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"It's a competitive schedule," said Roquemore, whose team will play six of the seven teams in Region 7-AAA. "It's been fun to watch these kids mature, and grow not just as players but as young men. That's a big key for us, and it's important to our school culture."
