OAKWOOD — Like many other area teams, West Hall football sports a new coach in Krofton Montgomery and will also be changing their approaches on both sides of the ball.
Montgomery, however, is well familiar with the Spartans as a part of former coach Tony Lotti's staff. In fact, Montgomery spent the past five seasons helping build the Spartans back into a consistent playoff program.
The Spartans also are part of perhaps the toughest region (7-4A) in Class 4A -- which houses state champion Marist and state runner-up Blessed Trinity, as well as Flowery Branch, which dropped down from Class 5A, and new Forsyth County school Denmark, which is expected to field a team far removed from a novice program.
West Hall is altering its run-oriented attack into a hybrid, spread offense in order to take advantage of a slew of talented skilled players like RB Michael Thompson and receivers Devin Williams, Jeremiah Prather, and Rodrigo Lopez. Thompson moved from QB and will joined by junior Gainesville transfer Solomon Riley, who could emerge as one of the area's most dangerous and exciting talents, in the backfield.
Senior Quentin Smith is expected to open the season as the starter at QB, but sophomore Clayton Jenkins is also battling for the spot and could be a player to look out for in the future.
WEST HALL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Spartans
- TEAM COLORS: Navy blue and Silver
- CURRENT REGION: 7-4A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Krofton Montgomery, first season
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 5-6, reached first round Class 4A playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: WR/DB Cameron Shirley, OL Josh Taylor (shorter College), OL Cory Davis, OL/LB Damien Fouts, LB Austin Sinclair
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Hybrid spread -- The previously rush-oriented Spartans are changing their offense to be a little more balanced and will look to open things up through the air in 2018. Michael Thompson moves over to RB and will be the every down option in the backfield with his size and speed and should be ready to put up some big numbers. QB Quentin Smith has improved since 2017 and will have several talented targets in the passing game as well.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Sr. QB Quentin Smith, Jr. RB Michael Thompson, Sr. OL Jackson Bartlett, Sr. OL Ricky Castillo, Sr. OL Matt Sinclair, Sr. WR Devin Williams, Jr. RB Solomon Riley, Sr. WR Jeremiah Prather, So. WR Rodrigo Lopez
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: Multiple -- New coordinator Travis Raley will attack the offense with pressure out of multiple looks in order to create turnovers.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Jr. FS Solomon Riley, Sr. DL Jackson Bartlett, Sr. DB Jeremiah Prather, Jr. LB Michael Thompson, Sr. DL Hunter Rainey Sr. DL Ricky Castillo, Sr. CB Devin Williams, Jr. LB Caden Collins, Jr. DE Logan Ormerod, Sr. LB Corey Dupree, So. S Rodrigo Lopez
- SPECIAL TEAMS: So. PK Rodrigo Lopez, Jr. KR Solomon Riley, Sr. KR Jeremiah Prather, open competition for P duties
- STRENGTH: Depth at skilled positions/Secondary -- With Smith taking the reins at QB and Thompson moving to RB and the addition of several speedy receivers, the Spartans will field a number of playmakers at all times. The secondary, with Riley, Prather, and Lopez, has the potential to be a shutdown unit.
- QUESTION: QB consistency/lines of scrimmage -- Consistent QB play was an issue in 2017 and Smith is still growing into the position. A shuffle along both lines could take some time to find the right combinations up front.
- KEY GAMES: The Spartans have a brutal non-region schedule with perennial powers Commerce (season opener, Aug. 17, away) and Jefferson (Aug. 31, home), a tough Dawson County group (Sept. 7, home), and an improving Johnson squad. But the key will be three consecutive road games to open Region 7-4A play, including Bessed Trinity and Marist. However, the Spartans do finish with three straight region games at home, including rival Flowery Branch.
- TRENDING: Montgomery, as part of Lotti's staff for five seasons, has helped build the Spartans into a consistent playoff team, with five straight postseason appearances -- a huge change of direction following a decade of missing out on the bracket. West Hall may have the best overall talent at the skilled positions it's had in a decade, but playing in arguably the toughest region Class 4A will certainly be a huge challenge. The Spartans want to show they are still very much a program on the ascent -- even in the face of a rugged Region 7-4A schedule.
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at Commerce
Aug. 24 at Johnson
Aug. 31 vs. Jefferson
Sept. 7 at Dawson County
Sept. 21 at *Blessed Trinity
Sept. 28 at *Denmark
Oct. 5 at *Marist
Oct. 12 vs. *White County
Oct. 26 vs. *Flowery Branch
Nov. 3 vs. *Chestatee
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
