GAINESVILLE — You don't graduate a player the caliber of running back Kyle Bacus -- who rushed for over 1,700 yards in 2016 -- and expect to match that kind of production with a young, inexperienced group.
Or do you?
That is the question North Hall coach David Bishop and his staff are attempting to answer as they prep for the 2017 season in a rugged Region 7-AAA that will give no quarter, or sympathies.
"Most teams can't follow a guy like that with another guy like that," Bishop said. "Our ground game will be much different this year from a couple of standpoints. First, we have a lot of (running backs) this year that are smaller and faster and have the ability to outrun defenses and go the distance. Second, our line will be much smaller but quicker than the last few years. Our strength this year may be the ability to get to the edge better. But a lot of them will also play both ways on defense so having a committee is almost a given right now."
The backfield has some experience returning in seniors Cutter Sanford, Jack Brown, and Peyton Mavity. Juniors Daniel Jackson and Drew Faulkner and sophomore Brady Dehass can also expect to help share the work load. But senior Trey Pardue is the only returning starter along an offensive line that could be a work-in-progress early on.
"The offensive line is progressing. We have a mix of youth and some older guys that saw some action last year," Bishop said. "How quickly we can find the right combinations will be a key for us."
Defensively, the Trojans will change to an even front with a 4-2-5 look that should play to the strength of a roster stocked with players that can cover ground. The defensive line, led by seniors Mitch Seymour and and Landon Earnest and junior Logan Jackson, should be a good one to build around, however.
Bishop said they hope opponents view them as a team in rebuilding mode -- as they see things a little differently.
"We know teams are probably thinking we may be a step back from last year without Kyle, and we may be overlooked a lot. We hope they overlook us," he said. "Our kids are taking that as a challenge. We're excited about this group because there is a lot of potential, and they seem hungry to show people they can play."
NORTH HALL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Trojans
- TEAM COLORS: Green and White
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: David Bishop, fourth season, 14-18
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 6-5, first round Class AAA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: QB Jackson Madonna, RB Maddox Turner, RB Kyle Bacus, OL Austin Lovell, TE Jake Meeler, WR Josh Parish, DL Mac Bennett, NG Christian Barbosa, ILB Caleb Shoemaker, DB David Seid
- 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 even if they did graduate one of the program's all-time yardage leaders in Bacus.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Jr. HB Daniel Jackson, Sr. HB Cutter Sanford, Sr. RB Jack Brown, Jr. QB David Seavey, Sr. WR Noah Holman, Jr. RB Drew Faulkner, Sr. RB Peyton Mavity, So. RB Brady Dehass
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-3 -- North Hall is staying with its traditional look but will look to create more even fronts to fit personnel. The Trojans may not be as aggressive as in the past but the subtle changes will give them the ability to match up wih different styles of offense.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. DB Cutter Sanford, Jr. DB Daniel Jackson, Sr. LB Jack Brown, Jr. DB David Seavey, Sr. DB Noah Holman
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK/P Joel Barrientos
- STRENGTH: Chemistry/defense -- Close-knit group that has bought into the North Hall system. Defensive front, led Sr. Mitch Syemour, Jr. Logan Jackson, and Sr. Landon Earnest could be a breakout group, and the secondary could be a good one by season's end.
- QUESTION: Youth/inexperience/OL -- The Trojans will young at several spots and inexperienced as well as the offensive line with Sr. Trey Pardue the only returning starter in that group. They also are replacing their top 5 LBs from 2016.
- KEY GAMES: Bishop stressed that every game will be key but the opener against cross-county rival Chestatee could set the tone for the Trojans, especially with the youth of the team. Having three of the first four region games at home could help set the Trojans up for a possible third straight trip to the playoffs. However, they have a tough finish with road games at Class AAA state runner-up Greater Atlanta Christian (Oct. 20) and against a potentially explosive East Hall (Oct. 27). North Hall takes its second bye on the final week of the regular season.
- TRENDING: Coming off back-to-back playoff appearances in 2015-16, the Trojans are regaining some of the swagger they had from 2002-13 when they won 130 games and advanced to the quarterfinals or better four times. North Hall will be younger in 2017 than in recent seasons but it also has talent in several key areas that could help elevate the Trojans back into contention -- the timing simply depends on how quickly those younger players adjust to varsity play.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 at Chestatee
Aug. 25 vs. Flowery Branch
Sept. 8 at Pickens
Sept. 15 vs. White County
Sept. 22 vs. *Fannin County
Sept. 29 at *Dawson County
Oct. 6 vs. *Lumpkin County
Oct. 13 vs. *Union County
Oct. 20 at *Greater Atlanta Christian
Oct. 27 at *East Hall
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
