SUWANEE — Warren Burrell smiled when asked the question — and then responded like any defender with visions of tackles in his head.
“It’s way more fun...and with the attitude and everything he’s setting up here we win. It’s fun to do that,” the North Gwinnett junior defensive back said.
The “he” is first-year Bulldogs head coach Bill Stewart, and the attitude the former Mill Creek defensive coordinator has brought to North Gwinnett is proving a welcome addition for players both on defense and on both sides of the trenches.
“We’ve really emphasized running the ball a lot more, pound it down their throat see if they can handle it — that’s kind of been our motto, offensively,” Bulldogs senior offensive lineman Warren Ericson said.
It is a far cry from the pass-happy attacks of the Bob Sphire days — an approach that helped make North Gwinnett a major contender with 110 wins and two state championship appearances in his 11 years with the Bulldogs before he resigned to take over at Camden County this offseason.
Yet Stewart’s approach is also making a mark early, leading North Gwinnett to a 3-1 start against a tough schedule — the Bulldogs’ only loss so far coming in a 31-28 battle with No. 8 Walton — and has North Gwinnett players hopeful of a return to an elite level after going 11-10 combined the past two seasons with just one playoff contest to show for it.
“I think week by week we just try and get more developed into what we can be. We’re not obviously where we need to be yet, but I can see improvement every single day,” Ericson said. “It’s been nice seeing that elite level come back as far as mentality that the coaches are instilling — be relentless and the toughness that has to be to compete well in this region.”
The Bulldogs know they must be tough right out of the gate in Region 6-AAAAAAA, opening league play against 4-0 Mountain View.
“They’re very athletic, very athletic — no denying that,” Stewart said of the Bears — whose first four opponents may only sport a combined 1-16 record but have also been absolutely dominated by a Mountain View team that has won all four contests by an average score of 53-3.
And after breaking through to the state playoffs for the first time in their eight seasons of varsity play last season, Mountain View knows it can make a statement if they can notch their first ever win over the Bulldogs.
“They definitely have leadership — you can tell. They just keep building every year, and they’re really playing well,” Stewart said.
The same could be said for the Bulldogs, who bounced back from the season-opening loss to Walton impressively, and have also rolled through the adversity of losing starting quarterback Cade Fortin, a Texas A&M commit who left midway through a game two (a 31-28 win over Milton). In Fortin’s absence, senior back-up Jimmy Urzua has deputized ably, guiding an attack that is averaging 202 yards rushing per game and 177 yards passing.
“The good thing was there was no panic. (Urzua) did slide right in there, and everybody jumped on board with him, and everybody felt comfortable,” Stewart said. “Obviously that’s unfortunate what happened to Cade, and we love him and he’s a great player, but Jimmy’s filling shoes. He’s doing very well, and he’s leading it and being efficient and doing what we’re asking them to do.”
It doesn’t hurt to have players like the imposing Ericson (6-foot-4, 290 pounds), a University of Georgia commit, protecting Urzua. The quarterback can also lean on a strong running game led by junior Tyler Goodson, (team-high 464 yards rushing, 8 TDs). Goodson’s nine receptions for 150 yards and a score are also the second best marks behind sophomore receiver Josh Downs (20 receptions, 296 yards, 1 TD).
They are set to face a Bears defense that has forced nine turnovers so far this season, including six interceptions, and includes playmakers Blake Carroll (linebacker) and cornerback Jaydon Patterson (Western Kentucky commit).
The Mountain View offense also features plenty of playmakers, including quarterback Matthew Edwards, (58 percent completion rate, 862 yards, 9 TDs, zero INTs) and receiver Malachi Carter (23 receptions, 284 yards, 6 TDs, Georgia Tech commit). Yet the Bears are almost equally balanced in the run game, rushing for 202 yards per contest — against 227 passing. Davian Criss (250 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and Enoch Walters (230 yards, 3 TDs) have carried the majority of the load.
“They make you make plays. And I know you say that every week; you’ve got to make plays. But at the end of the day they’re going to get people on air, and you’re going to have to make plays,” Stewart said. “And so they’re going to spread you out offensively. And they still have the ability to run the ball, so you’ve still got to be able to play to that. But then they’ve got great skill outside with a quarterback that can launch it.”
North Gwinnett’s defense has been opportunistic this season, forcing 12 turnovers — including seven fumble recoveries — and playmakers like Burrell (who is likely to line up against Carter) are enjoying the fruits of their labors.
“More of it is attitude-wise that he tries to instill in us just a ferocious nature — wherever the ball is go to it,” Burrell said. “For a lot of us that suits us well because we like to be everywhere at once. It’s just been a matter of focusing it in and dialing it in when the play starts in order to get it done.”
Safeties Nicholas Pucciarello (25 tackles, 3 for loss) and D’armani Ridley (21 tackles) and defensive end Payne Walker (21 tackles) have also played well for North Gwinnett, which has racked up seven sacks this season.
After facing some some impressive offenses already this season — impressive competition top-to-bottom — the Bulldogs are itching to get their region campaign underway.
“We’ve gone through some real games now. So, really, being tested leading up to that’s been good and just knowing that we start off with a bang...We’re going to start off with a tough team in the region and a contender for everything,” Stewart said.
NORTH GWINNETT at MOUNTAIN VIEW
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Mountain View, Lawrenceville
-- NORTH GWINNETT (3-1, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA): Bye last week, defeated Norcross 35-14 on Sept. 8.
-- MOUNTAIN VIEW (4-0, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA): Defeated Shiloh 52-0 last week.
-- NOTABLE: North Gwinnett is in its first season under Bill Stewart. ... Mountain View is 4-0 but the four teams defeated have a combined 1-16 record. ... The Bears have never defeated the Bulldogs.
