HOMER — Banks County football coach Josh Shoemaker admits that as big as his team's postseason was in 2016 a win over Elbert County in the regular season might have been even more important for the trajectory of the Leopards program.
"Our mindset is to build off last year and try to keep the momentum rolling," said the coach, whose team made its first ever Sweet 16 playoff appearance after an unusual set of circumstances saw Banks' first round foe, KIPP Atlanta, forfeit prior to the contest. Yet it was that win at traditional power Elbert County in the final regular season contest that ensured the Leopards finished as Region 8-AA runner-up and put them in position to face KIPP. And Shoemaker believes that progress could kickstart something bigger in Homer.
"I do think it's important for us to have another positive season after what we accomplished last year," Shoemaker said. "We want to be considered a playoff team every year, and I think what we do this year will be huge for the program in the long run."
The Leopards will have to replace a three-year starter in quarterback Griffin Goodwin, as well as running back Demetrius Walker -- both huge parts of the offense in 2016. Senior Trevor Thomas, the backup to Goodwin the last two seasons that saw some action last year, will take the reins of the offense. Senior Clayton Dykehouse and junior Terrance Walker should also feature in the backfield and are both posied for big seasons. The offensive line, however, will be a work in progress as the Leopards overhaul a unit that lost all but one returning starter in senior Tripp Martin.
The defense, which returns seven starters, including a talented group of linebackers -- led by seniors Marshall Pace and Dykehouse and junior Terrance Walker -- may have to carry the team through a tough non-region schedule while allowing the offense time to acclimate. The secondary should also be talented thanks to senior conerbacks Blake Segars and Jeffrey Evans and safeties Thomas and sophomore Sawyer Pace.
"We really like what we have on the defensive side of the ball as a unit. They may have to carry us early on but they should be very good," Shoemaker said. "I think we have a lot of guys on offense that can make plays for us. It may take a few weeks to get everything in sync and get that rhythm down."
BANKS COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Leopards
- TEAM COLORS: Blue and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Josh Shoemaker, second season, 7-5
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 7-5, second round Class AA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: QB Griffin Goodwin, RB/LB Demetrius Walker. OL/DL Cole Griffin, WR Judd Roberts, LB Zach Lehotsky, P Tyler Autry, PK Ramiro Cuadra
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: 1-back multiple formations -- The Leopards are looking for balance, but will run to set up the pass in a variety of formations.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. RB Clayton Dykehouse, Sr. WR Blake Segars, Sr. OL Tripp Martin, Sr. WR Jeffrey Evans, Sr. QB Trevor Thomas, Jr. HB Terrance Walker
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- The scheme fits the personnel for the Leopards, who like to attack when the opportunity presents itself.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Sr. LB Marshall Pace, Sr. LB Clayton Dykehouse, Sr. CB Blake Segars, Sr. DL Tripp Martin, Sr. CB Jeffrey Evans, Sr. S Trevor Thomas, Jr. LB Terrance Walker, So. S Sawyer Pace
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. P Jocab Lehotsky, Jr. KR/PR Sam Boyer, Sr. KR/PR Max Sanders; PK duties undecided as of publication
- STRENGTH: Defense/offensive backfield -- The defense returns experience across the board and a slew of talented skilled position players on offense should give them plenty of playmakers.
- QUESTION: Kicking game/inexperience -- The Leopards will have to find a replacement for placekicker Ramiro Caudra as well as see if some of the newer players can fill the roles of a talented 2016 class, especially at offensive line, where just one starter returns.
- KEY GAMES: Shoemaker says the region game that matters most during the season is the one that week, and that could change depending on how things shake out during the season. The Leopards have a tough non-region schedule with playoff teams Jackson County and Commerce as well as AAAAA Johnson to get prepared for region play. The region opener at Monticello (Sept. 22), which is a tough place to win on the road, could set them up for a huge showdown with defending region champ Rabun County at home the following week. That game -- Banks' only region loss in 2016 (46-3) -- decided the region title in 8-AA.
- TRENDING: Getting a win at Elbert County in the regular season finale in 2016 may be the kind of win that propels the Leopards into the upper tier of playoff contenders in the future. They are looking for their first back-to-back state playoff appearances since 1996-97, and Shoemaker and his staff have the numbers up and the confidence even higher heading into the 2017 campaign. Banks County has been consistently in the mix the past three seasons, going 17-15 over that span. In fact, over the last nine seasons, Banks County has suffered a losing record in just three of those years -- an impressive turnaround from the 1998-2007 span that saw 10 straight losing records.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 at Jackson County
Aug. 25 vs. Commerce
Sept. 1 vs. Johnson
Sept. 15 at Union County
Sept. 22 at *Monticello
Sept. 29 vs. *Rabun County
Oct. 13 at *Oglethorpe County
Oct. 20 at *Social Circle
Oct. 27 vs. *Putnam County
Nov. 3 vs. *Elbert County
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
