SUWANEE — Growth may well determine the fate of North Gwinnett football in 2016.
Coming off their first non-playoff season since 2003, the Bulldogs still have plenty of talent as they prepare for their first season in the newly-formed Class AAAAAAA. But coach Bob Sphire said the season will rest on how quickly his inexperienced squad finds the ingredients for success.
"We lost a lot of good players to graduation and we have a lot of guys that didn't get a lot of playing time in some spots," Sphire said. "But, we also had a lot of guys get playing time last year but just weren't up to the level we needed them to be. If everyone can get to the level we need them to be for us to be competitive, then we have a chance at a pretty good season."
The offense should be in good hands with junior quarterback Cade Fortin returning. The big question is who will Fortin will throw to? as the Bulldogs will have to replace nine receivers from last year’s group, including USC-signee Josh Imatorbhebhe and Miami-Ohio signee K.J. Hancock. Sphire is hoping that a leader emerges from a talented group that includes senior transfer Ricky Reed, tight end Ryan Smith, Javonni Cunningham, Riley Walker, and Garrison Manor, Ryan Smith, and LJ Fisher.
Defensively the Bulldogs will be solid up front with senior Duke commit Drew Jordan and senior Dixon Yellott. They will have to overcome the recent loss of senior Taemin Song (DE) who suffered an ACL injury just before the start of fall practice and is out for the season.
With Mill Creek, Peachtree Ridge, and Collins Hill all coming off playoff appearances and reloading, Duluth in a constant state of rebuilding, and Discovery still getting its program off the ground, North Gwinnett could find itself in a battle with Mountain View for a playoff spot.
NORTH GWINNETT: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Bulldogs
- TEAM COLORS: Black, Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: 6-AAAAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Bob Sphire, 11th season, 104-23
- 2015 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 5-5
- KEY LOSSES: OL Alex Mollette, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR K.J. Hancock, ATH Jordan Frye, S Matthew Andryusky, DB Delon Smith
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Bulldogs like to attack through the air to set up the run.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Jr. QB Cade Fortin (1,425 yds, 12 TD, 8 INT), Sr. RB Ryan Lovelace (449 yrds, 2 TD), Sr. OL Chris Sibilia, Sr. OL Troy Fortin, Sr. OL Chandler Hood, Jr. OL Warren Ericson, Sr. WR Ricky Reed, Sr. TE Ryan Smith, Jr. WR LJ Fisher
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-5 -- North Gwinnett opts for an attacking defense, using the front eight to focus on stopping the run.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 3 returning starters -- Sr. DE Dixon Yellott, Sr. DE Drew Jordan (Duke-commit), Sr. LB Brian Eberhardt, Sr. LB Keison Forte, Sr. LB Cole Williams
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK/P Manny Herrera, kick return duties undecided as of publication time
- STRENGTH: Defensive line/quarterback -- With Jordan and Yellott anchoring the defensive line, the Bulldogs should be stout up front despite the loss Song during the summer. The offense will be bolstered by Fortin, who improved as the season went along in 2015, and the kicking game is in good hands, or feet, with the return of Herrera.
- QUESTION: Offensive line/receivers -- The Bulldogs do return six players in the trenches but Sphire said the group as a whole needs to improve to give Fortin and Lovelace room to operate. Finding capable receivers to replace the nine that graduated will be a key area to address during the fall.
- KEY GAMES: North Gwinnett opens with a typically high-profile game against Brookwood in the Kell Classic in the Georgia Dome. From there the Bulldogs have a tough non-region schedule with arch-rival Norcross and traveling to Hillgrove. But a shot at the playoffs could come down to their meeting with Mountain View to open region play (Sept. 23, home).
- TRENDING: After 11 straight playoff appearances, the Bulldogs are kind of treading water after missing out on the playoffs last year. They have gone from 13 wins in 2013 to just five in 2015. But Sphire said renewed interest in the program and an increase in numbers may have the Bulldogs trending back up in 2016.
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 vs. Brookwood (Georgia Dome), 11:45 a.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Milton
Sept. 2 at Hillgrove
Sept. 9 vs. Norcross
Sept. 23 vs. *Mountain View
Sept. 30 at *Mill Creek
Oct. 14 at *Duluth
Oct. 21 vs. *Peachtree Ridge
Oct. 28 vs. *Collins Hill
Nov. 4 vs. *Discovery
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
