GAINESVILLE — North Hall football was the very definition of "change" in 2014. The Trojans returned just one starter (of 22) and were under a new head coach for the first time since 2001 -- albeit one that had been in the program since that very year.
Coach David Bishop and his players absorbed a number of lessons as they began the rebuilding process, displaying the green shoots of renewal along the way. The Trojans hope to make the most of that education in 2015 -- but the changes are not fully complete.
In fact North Hall's offense is undergoing a scheme shift -- even if it is back to the style that once defined the Trojans offense -- as Bishop opted to shed the wishbone for the good old wing-T.
"When we moved to the wishbone a few years ago I had seven senior running backs; this year I've only got six-seven running backs total," Bishop said. "When you run the wishbone you need a lot of running backs, because they're hitting someone or getting hit on every snap. So the wing-T just fit our personnel better. And, while yes, people say the guys played in the wing-T before, for most of these guys it was a long time ago when they were in youth ball. So they're going through the learning process right now. There's a lot of moving parts to the wing-T."
The Trojans, which battled injuries at the quarterback position last season, also find themselves in a similar spot in 2015, as Drew Atha -- who closed out 2014 under center -- is recovering from a foot injury that Bishop hopes will not keep him from starting the season opener.
The good news is that back-up Jackson Madonna got plenty of exeprience last season, and the defense returns relatively intact and under the same system and coordinator in Stuart Cunningham. There is also talent to go around in the running back corps and plenty of bodies battling it out for a starting position along the offensive line. In short, the Trojans expect improvement in 2015 and feel they have the ability to overcome some of the issues that -- last season -- proved tough.
NORTH HALL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Trojans
- TEAM COLORS: Green and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: David Bishop, second season, 2-8
- 2014 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2-8
- KEY LOSSES: RB Austin Perry, RB/LB Bobby Mendenhall, OL/LB Hayden Hughes, ATH/DB Micah Strickland, LB Colby Krepcio
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Wing-T -- The Trojans have returned to the offense that helped define the program for much of the last decade and one that will keep the emphasis on running the ball.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. QB Drew Atha (injured in preseason, working to be ready for kickoff), Jr. QB Jackson Madonna (played extensively last season), Jr. RB Maddox Turner, Jr. RB Kyle Bacus, Sr. RB Sam Jackson, 9 players battling for starting 5 offensive line spots
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- North Hall will look to be aggressive and attack in its second year under defensive coordinator Stuart Cunningham.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Jr. OLB Kyle Bacus, Sr. OLB Colby Miller, Sr. DB Sam Jackson, Jr. DL Christian Barbosa, Sr. LB Dylan Murphy, Jr. DL Mac Bennett, Sr. DL Corbin Davis
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK Chris Dennis; Sr. P Nathan Kinney/Sr. P Drew Atha, Sr. KR Sam Jackson, So. KR Cutter Sanford
- STRENGTH: Work ethic -- The Trojans have put together what Bishop described as the hardest-working summer he's seen since he came to the program in 2001, which should serve North Hall in good sted, considering the switch back to the wing-T -- necessitating plenty of learning.
- QUESTION: Learning curve -- The Trojans have worked hard to get back to their old offensive style, but it's never easy to pick up a system change.
- KEY GAMES: The opener at Jefferson (Sept. 4) will prove intriguing indeed, as both teams bring talent but questions to the contest. In fact, all three non-region games loom large, as North Hall faces three strong programs, including West Hall (Sept. 11) and Carrollton (Sept. 18). Meanwhile, the start of the Region 8-AAAA season offers no respite, as North Hall faces three straight playoff teams from a season ago in Stephens County (Sept. 25), which reached the 2014 second round, North Oconee (Oct. 2), which reached the quarterfinals, and Buford (Oct. 9), the defending Class AAAA champ.
- TRENDING: There was no doubt that last season would be a rebuilding effort, with just one returning starter out of 22 and transitions in the coaching staff. That said, the Trojans want to bounce back in a big way and show that 2-8 was the anomaly for a program that has posted just two losing records over the last 13 campaigns.
2015 SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 at Jefferson
Sept. 11 vs. West Hall
Sept. 18 vs. Carrollton
Sept. 25 vs. *Stephens County
Oct. 2 at *North Oconee
Oct. 9 vs. *Buford
Oct. 16 at *Madison County
Oct. 23 at *Monroe Area
Oct. 30 vs. *Chestatee
Nov. 6 at *White County
* - indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
