RABBITTOWN -- There is no doubt that East Hall football is on the right track.<br />
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The roster is jammed with players, a set of standards are in place and expectations are on the rise.<br />
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With that in mind, the Vikings hope a breakthrough season is just around the corner.<br />
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It has hung tantalizingly for coach Bryan Gray's program over the past three years, as East Hall has posted three straight 5-5 records, brushing state playoff berths in each of those campaigns.<br />
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Gray prefers to focus on other factors -- "wins are great, but you've got to look at all the other aspects of our program" -- but even he admits this team has him excited.<br />
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"This is the biggest squad we've had since I've been here," Gray said. "We've got close to 80 kids and a lot of big bodies, for once."<br />
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Indeed, the Vikings are blessed with linemen in 2014, including a number of talented and athletic bodies on the defensive front.<br />
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"In high school if you've got linemen you're going to win games; linemen are a big deal," Gray said. "And I'm excited not only that we have some big guys but by the work ethic they have shown. We can do some things different in practice now that we have never really been able to do."<br />
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Perhaps most exciting is that those linemen -- on offense -- will clear lanes for a talented and explosive group of running backs and a quarterback that could be amongst the best in northeast Georgia.<br />
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Senior signal caller Devin Watson flashed big-play ability last year, passing for 2,478 yards, and now hopes to become a steady threat with both his legs and arm.<br />
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"He's a wonderful kid, intelligent, and now he's learning to be coached in the finer techniques," Gray said. "He's bigger and stronger this year, but, most importantly, he's motivated to get better, especially in the little things."<br />
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Watson will certainly have help in the backfield, as the elusive Jiel Vargas and Jacques Ashe look to make their presence felt at running back.<br />
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The biggest question comes at receiver, where Junior Lee has one spot locked down but competition remains open at other positions.<br />
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There is a similar story in the defensive secondary, where East Hall has plenty of athletes vying for starting roles, including Lee and Watson.<br />
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Competition is also fierce on the defensive line, and the Vikings are excited about all of their options in the trenches -- including speedy big men Alan Silva, Abraham Sepulveda and Ulises Andrade.<br />
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"We've got six or seven kids that can really play," Gray said. "They've all got size, but, really, what they have is tremendous speed. It may be the best group we've had here."<br />
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After graduating several contributors at linebacker, East Hall still has potential standouts available in veteran Juwon Merritt and Ronnie Peebles.<br />
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"We have the best group of kids that the East Hall community provides and a coaching staff second to none," Gray said. "They've all been together since I got here and have a strong bond and know how to work together."<br />
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This season the staff will work together to make the most of a changed Region 7-AAA.<br />
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Gone is title behemoth Buford and perennial playoff foes North Hall and White County -- all up in Region 8-AAAA. But Gray warns that won't make things any easier.<br />
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"Dawson County and West Hall are still very good teams; Lumpkin County looks big and physical; Banks County will be better -- it won't be an easy schedule by any means," Gray said. "But we're excited about this team, and I know everyone here is looking forward to the challenge."
