RABBITTOWN — Years of waiting and hoping yielded to joy and fulfillment last season when, after a nine-year absence, East Hall football surged back into the state playoffs.
Coach Bryan Gray says that taste of success has only made his Vikings hungrier for more.
Yet this season will see a lot of youth served for East Hall, as Gray estimates that "75 percent of the team" is made up of sophomores and freshmen. That doesn't mean the Vikings are completely inexperienced, however.
"We got a lot of the younger guys minutes last year in anticipation of this season," Gray said. "Most of the kids who will play have varsity experience."
That certainly includes the offensive line, which -- along with the running back corps and the defensive backfield -- is full of upperclassmen. And Gray believes that group will aly with its running backs to give East Hall a formidable attack -- even if it is slightly different from past Vikings squads, which took to the air more often.
That factor will help a trio of young quarterbacks -- Austin Parker, Markese Jackson and Zander Mann -- currently battling it out for the starting slot (all could play), to mature.
Meanwhile, East Hall's defense will look to shore up its defensive front after graduating all but one starter on the defensive line and linebacker corps.
EAST HALL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Vikings
- TEAM COLORS: Black and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Bryan Gray, ninth season, 27-54
- 2014 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 6-5, first round state playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: QB Devin Watson, RB Jacques Ashe, WR Junior Lee, DL Alan Silva, DL Abraham Sepulveda, DL Ulises Andrade, LB Ronnie Peebles, LB Juwon Merritt
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread/multiple -- The Vikings will look to a veteran offensive line to lead the way this season and don't be surprised to see more run plays mixed into an offense that was pass-heavy in recent seasons.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. RB Jiel Vargas, Sr. OL Tommie Peebles, Sr. OL Chase Mullins, Jr. RB Deon Ellison, Sr. WR Jacquen Hopkins, 3 players battling at QB
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: Multiple -- The Vikings will look to use their athleticism to break up offensive attacks before they can get going.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. DL Jackie Clark, Sr. DB Jacquen Hopkins, Sr. DB Triquece Ware, Sr. DB Brock Griffin, Jr. DB Noah Dyer, Sr. LB Jesse Peterson
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Placekicking and punting duties undecided as of publication time. Sr. KR Jacquen Hopkins
- STRENGTH: Offensive line/running backs -- A veteran group up front will lead the way, and pave the way for a talented group of running backs, including the fleet-footed Vargas and the powerful Ellison.
- QUESTION: Experience -- East Hall has planety of players with some experience, but they will be turning to a number of underclassmen -- Gray estimates the team is 75 percent freshmen and sophomores -- to get the job done.
- KEY GAMES: East Hall opens with two straight tough non-region contests, battling Wesleyan and Pickens (both playoff teams from a season ago) out of the gates. The Region 7-AAA slate begins with a battle at Lumpkin County (Sept. 25) -- and the Indians' own powerful ground game -- which will give the Vikings a good idea of their chances in the race for the postseason.
- TRENDING: The long-awaited playoff breakthrough finally came in 2014, as East Hall charged back into the state bracket for the first time since 2005. The 6-5 campaign followed three straight 5-5 seasons, showing that Gray and his coaches have put the program on very solid footing. Now they hope to show they can continue that after graduating a number of starters from 2014.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 vs. Wesleyan
Sept. 4 vs. Pickens
Sept. 18 at Jackson County
Sept. 25 at *Lumpkin County
Oct. 2 vs. *Dawson County
Oct. 9 vs. *West Hall
Oct. 16 at Johnson
Oct. 23 at *Franklin County
Oct. 30 vs. *Fannin County
Nov. 6 at *Banks County
* - indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
