SUWANEE — Bill Stewart knew that following Bob Sphire might present challenges. But he also knew the product Sphire built at North Gwinnett football and could not wait to inherit it.
Sphire woke the Bulldogs from their doze and built a power program during 11 seasons in Suwanee, almost tripling the school's state playoff appearances, winning North's only five region crowns and reaching two state title games, before decamping to Camden County in the offseason.
However, the 2014-16 seasons had seen the Bulldogs produce a 19-11 record and no playoff victories. And, after aiding Mill Creek's ascent to the top levels of Class 7A football in GSHA and a strong mark in six seasons leading Etowah, Stewart, is hoping to take North Gwinnett back to those same heights.
So far he's liked what he's seen.
"These guys aren't settling; they know they have to be better and work harder -- they want to be back on top, and they're willing to do the things to make that happen," said Stewart. "If you've been doing something for 11 years one way and then someone new comes in with a different way of doing things, you expect some getting used to each other. But we've transitioned well. It's been a process and everyone's on board; we're in a good place."
Bulldogs' fans can expect the biggest changes on defense, where Stewart has installed the aggressive, attacking 4-3 base that helped cross-region rival Mill Creek to back-to-back state semifinal runs -- the same defense that held the Bulldog's normally-potent offense to just 17 points combined in each of the last two seasons.
Thanks to a stellar group of linebackers and defensive backs -- including Stewart's own son, Jake Stewart, who led Mill Creek in tackles last season, North's new coach believes he has a unit that will impress in 2017. And while he is curious to see how a defensive front that features few highly-recruited players may fare, Stewart sees plenty of reason for optimism.
"There's no five-star guys on the D-line, but we didn't have that at Mill Creek either the last couple of seasons," Stewart said.
Offensively, the Bulldogs will maintain a spread attack -- though it will not be a carbon-copy of Sphire's philosophy.
"We've got a different way of talking and terminology, and there's been some adjustment with that," Stewart said. "But we're still going to spread it around a lot, and we have skill in a lot of different spots."
That includes a two-year returning starter at quarterback in senior Cade Fortin, a talented receiving corps and a stable of running backs that has Stewart most excited. Like the defensive front, the offensive line also features question marks with just one returning starter -- but what a starter it is. Warren Ericson, a University of Georgia commit, is one of the highest-rated linemen in the state, and Stewart says he has the "it" factor.
"He does everything fired up," Stewart said of Ericson. "The other linemen look up to him."
As a coach well-familiar with the rigors of Region 6-AAAAAAA, Stewart says his team must focus first and foremost on itself and work to improve every week in order to get back to the heights of previous campaigns -- but he believes his roster has the make-up to jump right back into the playoff fray.
NORTH GWINNETT: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Bulldogs
- TEAM COLORS: Black, Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: 6-AAAAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Bill Stewart, first season (41-26 record at Etowah 2006-2011)
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 6-5, reached Class AAAAAAA first round
- KEY LOSSES: RB Ryan Lovelace, OL Chris Sibilia, OL Troy Fortin, OL Chandler Hood, WR Ricky Reed, TE Ryan Smith, DL Dixon Yellott, DE Drew Jordan, LB Brian Eberhardt, LB Keison Forte, LB Cole Williams
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The terminology may differ, as well as some of the concepts, from Sphire's version of the attack, but the idea is the same for the Bulldogs this season: get playmakers in space.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. QB Cade Fortin (1,841 yards passing, 16 TDs, 3 INTs; 512 yards rushing, 3 TDs in 2016), Sr. OL Warren Ericson (University of Georgia commit), Sr. WR LJ Fisher (team-high 33 receptions, 591 yards, 8 TDs), Jr. RB Tyler Goodson, Sr. RB Cam Butler, Sr. WR Garrison Manor, Jr. WR Javonni Cunningham
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-3 -- Stewart brings with him the defensive scheme that helped make Mill Creek into a serial state semifinalist 2015-16. Expect plenty of speed and aggression from North Gwinnett.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. DE Payne Walker, Jr. CB Warren Burrell, Sr. NG Deion Gilmore, Sr. LB Jake Stewart (leading tackler at Mill Creek in 2016), Sr. LB Jayden McDonald, Jr. DB Quinton Newsome, Sr. DE Myles Webster
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK Will Reichert; Sr. P Jimmy Urzua; Jr. KR Javonni Cunningham, Sr. LS Payne Walker
- STRENGTH: Defensive back 7/running backs -- As a defensive guru, Stewart has been nothing but impressed with what he inherited in the Bulldogs' secondary and at linebacker. The addition of his son, the leading tackler for cross-region rival Mill Creek in 2016, will also help. Meanwhile, expect North Gwinnett backs Goodson and Butler to get plenty of looks in the offense, as Stewart believes both are potential stars.
- QUESTION: Lines of scrimmage -- Make no mistake, Ericson is a true star. Stewart says the senior has the "it" factor and will rally the offensive line around him. But Ericson is also the only returning starter, meaning that the rest of the unit will learn on the job this season. There is also no "five-star defensive lineman," as Stewart noted. But he also said that his 2015-16 Mill Creek teams were similarly built -- and allowed just 12 points per game over the last two seasons combined.
- KEY GAMES: The opener against Walton in the Kell Classic will provide plenty of interest, as coaches and players take on their first contest together. The Bulldogs' next three contests come against playoff teams from a season ago in Milton, Hillgrove, and old region rival Norcross, where victories would certainly build confidence as they turn toward the 6-AAAAAAA slate. The Sept. 29 home game against Mill Creek could tell North Gwinnett plenty about its progress and starts a three-game home stand that may well define the Bulldogs' campaign.
- TRENDING: After 11 seasons under the most successful coach in program history, North Gwinnett is adjusting to a different offense (even if it is similar in style) for the first time in over a decade. It will be interesting to see how that develops -- though you can bet that Stewart, who won three region titles at Etowah, will have his defense firing on all cylinders. Stewart also says that Bulldog players are determined to re-invigorate a program that went 19-13 from 2014-16 after going 91-15 with two state championship game appearances and five region titles between 2006-2013.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 vs. Walton (Corky Kell), 8:45 p.m. at Georgia State
Aug. 25 at Milton
Sept. 1 vs. Hillgrove
Sept. 8 at Norcross
Sept. 22 at Mountain View*
Sept. 29 vs. Mill Creek*
Oct. 13 vs. Duluth*
Oct. 20 vs. Peachtree Ridge*
Oct. 27 at Collins Hill*
Nov. 3 at Discovery*
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
