GAINESVILLE — David Bishop could have found a more comfortable place to be at 6 a.m. during the summer. But football teams are not constructed in comfort, and so the North Hall coach could not help but enjoy his early wake-up calls -- especially considering they were set by his team's seniors.
Gathering at the school track, Trojans players challenged each other to gut-busting 300 meter runs -- a development that spoke volumes to Bishop.
"They did it one morning and then asked if they could do it again, and I told them it was up to them but I would go along with what they decided," Bishop said. "And they decided to keep at it. It was impressive to watch that leadership develop, because those guys were not letting each other fail -- and those runs were tough. There were some guys that didn't come back. But most of them stuck with it, and then they started calling the younger guys to come out there with them."
It is a dedication -- combined with his veterans' already impressive abilities -- that has Bishop excited about this year's Trojans team. And while North Hall's senior class is not especially large -- 15 strong -- it is chocked with talent and leadership.
"I could play all of them in the first 22," Bishop said. "These kids play with fire, and they enjoy being out there and playing with each other. This group took some lumps as sophomores (going 2-8 as Bishop transitioned from assistant to head coach) and are still here and have grown up a lot."
If North Hall can dodge the injury bug that bit several starters over the spring and summer -- most of whom should be ready by the time the season kicks off -- and develop some depth behind those seniors then the rebound that began last season could certainly continue.
Players like running back/defensive end Kyle Bacus, tight end/defensive lineman Mac Bennett and tight end/linebacker Jake Meeler are difference-makers. And Bishop feels he has more options on offense -- including a quarterback in Jackson Madonna that has been given the green light to pull the ball down and run.
"We've got the ability to get outside better, and, with the shotgun formation and building the run into the quarterback's progression, I feel we have a lot more threats," Bishop said. "We've got solid kids everywhere."
NORTH HALL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Trojans
- TEAM COLORS: Green and White
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: David Bishop, third season, 8-13
- 2015 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 6-5, reached first round of Class AAAA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: Saf Drew Atha, RB/DB Sam Jackson, LB Colby Miller, LB Dylan Murphy, DL Corbin Davis, PK Chris Dennis
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Wing-T -- The Trojans will continue to rely on their tried-and-true run-based attack and have a plethora of options in the backfield.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Sr. QB Jackson Madonna, Sr. RB Maddox Turner, Sr. RB Kyle Bacus, Sr. OL Austin Lovell, Sr. TE Jake Meeler, Sr. WR Josh Parish
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- North Hall will look to continue its aggressive approach and try to put more pressure on opposing offenses this season.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Sr. DL Mac Bennett (All-Region in 2015), Sr. NG Christian Barbosa, Sr. DE Kyle Bacus, Sr. ILB Caleb Shoemaker, Jr. DB Cutter Sanford, Sr. DB David Seid
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Joel Barrientos, punting and kick return duties undecided as of publication time
- STRENGTH: Experience/leadership -- 15 seniors is not a huge class necessarily, but each one of the 15 could be a major contributor and could feature within the 22 of the starting defense/offense. And there is a determination about the class that experienced a 2-8 season in 2014 as sophomores that has driven them to improve on last year's rebound.
- QUESTION: Turnover -- There is no doubt that North Hall's seniors are ready to go, and injuries have allowed several younger players to receive reps during practice, alongside new starters. But the question is how will they react in a game situation?
- KEY GAMES: The Trojans face four rivalry-style contests in their non-region slate, all of which will bring a little fire to the field. The showdown at Flowery Branch (Aug. 26) will provide a key early season test. The Region 7-AAA schedule will be tough top to bottom, and the defending region champs, Dawson County, come to The Brickyard on Sept. 30.
- TRENDING: After rebounding from a tough 2014 campaign, the Trojans showed they will not take a big step back, getting back into the state playoffs last season, and, with the bulk of that squad returning, it seems that North Hall is on track to continue the winning that has become tradition since their elevation in 2002 -- the Trojans are 130-50 in that time, having won just 100 games in the 40-plus seasons before that.
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 vs. Chestatee
Aug. 26 at Flowery Branch
Sept. 9 vs. Pickens
Sept. 16 at White County
Sept. 23 at *Fannin County
Sept. 30 vs. *Dawson County
Oct. 7 at *Lumpkin County
Oct. 14 at *Union County
Oct. 21 vs. *Greater Atlanta Christian
Oct. 28 vs. *East Hall
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
