RABBITTOWN — After years of steady improvement and back-to-back playoff appearances, the 2016 campaign caught East Hall football like a blindside block.
"There was a lot of frustration and anger last year, so we took everything we did and tried to twist it around and evaluate it. We called it an autopsy -- which is kind of morbid, I know, but we wanted to evaluate everything we do, and the kids bought into that," said Vikings coach Bryan Gray, who watched his program stumble to its first losing campaign in six seasons in 2016, going 3-7 and finishing sixth in a rugged Region 7-AAA.
The good news for East Hall? Three of those seven losses came by a combined 10 points, and the 2017 Vikings return plenty of talent determined to make up for last year's missteps.
"We have a strong group of leaders that's going to guide us," Gray said. "I think they're figuring out what it's going to take. There seems to be a focus in their eyes, a mission about righting what we did wrong last year."
With 16 of 22 starters anchoring the two-deep, East Hall hopes to hit the ground running in its spread attack. It helps to have a senior quarterback in Austin Parker (2,600 yards passing, 300 yards rushing, 30 total TDs in 2016) leading the way, while standout receiver Sedrion Morse (49 receptions, 927 yards, 11 TDs) also returns for his final varsity campaign. Their presence could help offset the graduations of standout running back Deon Ellison and do-it-all threat Markese Jackson.
"I think it's going to be much more by committee on offense this season," Gray said of a unit that averaged 34.1 pooints per game in 2016. "I expect us not to take a step back at all; I just expect more people to contribute. The offensive line may take a little longer because of some newer faces, but even those guys got some experience last year."
What East Hall does want to change, however, is its defensive performance. The Vikings yielded 42.5 points per contest last season (the program's highest-ever total according to Georgia High School Football Historians Association.org), and East Hall spent the offseason looking to shore up that side of the ball.
"Defensive football in my mind is pretty simple. It's know where to line up, play fast, cause turnovers, and get off the field on third down, obviously with solid fundamentals," Gray said. "So we've focused on getting off the field on third down, repping solid fundamentals over and over and over and making sure that when they get out there on the field they know what they're doing at all times. And if they don't we'll find somebody who does. Generally, in defensive football, if you can get that then things come together and an attitude forms and a unit starts to become cohesive, and that's what we're banking on."
The Vikings have a talented amd experienced secondary, along with veterans at linebacker -- though East Hall will field several new faces along the defensive line. That unit understands it must grow up during non-region play as it preps to compete in a 7-AAA known for explosive offenses. Do that, and Gray believes his program will get right back on track.
"I think we took a hiccup last year, and when you have some success prior to that -- sometimes you lose focus on what you need to focus on for success," Gray said. "I think all of us coaches and players evaluated that and realized that success means you have to work even harder."
EAST HALL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Vikings
- TEAM COLORS: Black and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Bryan Gray, 11th season, 35-67
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 3-7
- KEY LOSSES: RB Deon Ellison, WR/QB Markese Jackson, DL Andrew Arrowood, DL Austin Haynes, Saf Noah Dyer
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread/multiple -- The Vikings have plenty of talent and experience back on this side of the ball and, while they have yet to settle on a starting running back, they have talent there too. Look for the passing game to be strong from kickoff.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 9 returning starters -- Sr. QB Austin Parker (2,600 yards passing, 27 TDs; 300 yards rushing, 1 TD), Sr. WR Sedrion Morse (49 receptions, 927 yards, 11 TDs), Sr. WR Tripp Rider, Sr WR Amir Ellison, 5 starting offensive linemen return
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: Multiple -- The Vikings will look to use their speed and athleticism to break up offensive attacks before they can get going.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Sr. FS Austin Brock, Sr. LB Jacob Wade, Sr. CB Giezi Barrientos, Sr. CB James Stoudenmire
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Placekicking duties are undecided as of publication time, Sr. P Austin Parker
- STRENGTH: Experience -- With 16 returning starters (of 22) and 15 seniors on the roster, East Hall has plenty of veterans ready to take the lead for this team. That certainly includes Parker, who Gray tabs as a "tremendous leader," with "great feet, strength, and an improved arm," even over last season. And with an experienced trio of receivers, the Vikings air attack should prove exciting for a team that scored 341 points last season -- second highest in the program's history and its highest mark since 1989 (a team that played two more games than last year's squad).^
- QUESTION: Defensive line/playing a complete game -- East Hall's defensive line is one of the few inexperienced spots on the team. It has potential but must prove itself this season. Meanwhile, the Vikings must show they can play a complete game in order to bounce back from last year's disappointing record. East Hall lost five games by an average of 7.4 points in 2016, and they'll be looking to make up that difference this time around.
- KEY GAMES: The season opener against a continually improving Habersham Central team at Valhalla could give the Vikings a good barometer of where they are, followed by a trip to a similarly improving Chestatee on Aug. 25. The region opener against Lumpkin County proved a fight to the finish last season that the Vikings lost. Starting off with a 7-AAA victory this time around will be key as East Hall next faces four straight playoff teams from a year ago in Union County, GAC, Dawson County and North Hall.
- TRENDING: Last season provided the Vikings with their worst record in six seasons after going 27-25 between 2011-2015. Now they hope to show that 2016 was the anomaly. It won't be easy in a tough Region 7-AAA replete with talent -- especially at the quarterback position. But after building the base of the program, including a strong middle school team, Gray and his coaches feel they can get right back in the playoff hunt in 2017.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 vs. Habersham Central
Aug. 25 at Chestatee
Sept. 8 at Johnson
Sept. 15 at Jackson County
Sept. 22 vs. Lumpkin County*
Sept. 29 vs. Union County*
Oct. 6 at Greater Atlanta Christian*
Oct. 20 at Dawson County*
Oct. 27 vs. North Hall*
Nov. 3 at Fannin County*
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
^ - Stat courtesy Georgia High School Football Historians.org
