Trojans look to experience as they enter the 2019 season

GAINESVILLE — After disappointing losses to GAC and Dawson County last season that led to a third-place Region 7-3A finish, the Trojans enter the 2019 campaign seeking redemption with an experienced squad.

But there's still one glaring concern for North Hall coach David Bishop.

“You’re going to hear me say a veteran/experienced team a lot,” he said. “The expectations are pretty high, but the depth is not there in most positions. Right now, we’re struggling to find depth, but at the same time trying to build it. Some of my younger players have gotten a lot of reps over the summer. We’ve focused on getting those kids better.”

Depth might be a concern but the Trojans do return a boatload of experience from a team that advanced to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs last season. 

The Trojans have eight starters back on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. 

“We are a veteran team on both sides of the ball,” he said. “A lot of these players endured the 4-7 season as sophomores and now they’re seniors. So, I feel pretty good about where we are right now.”

The holes left by graduation, however, are big ones to fill. Leading tackler and rusher Daniel Jackson, third-best tackler and quarterback David Seavey and key defender and running back Drew Faulkner all graduated.

“It’s just those three (losses) were really good,” he said. “Defensively, Drew Faulkner made plays on defense that saved games for us. You take Dan, Seavey and Faulkner out, it’s a big loss.”

Seavey, a two-year starter, accounted for 1,171 total yards of offense and 21 TDs last season at quarterback. He is in college now and finding a replacement has turned into a contest in practice.

Bishop says it’s a three-way battle between senior Trey Sanders and sophomores Parker Caudill and Bradford Puryear. 

“It is a competition right now,” he said. “But Sanders had a very good spring and summer and separated himself from the rest.”

Regardless of who’s at quarterback, Bishop hasn't spent a whole lot of time stressing about it. Perhaps the return four offensive linemen have calmed the nerves a bit. 

Seniors Micah Holman, Austin Sullens, Seth Carlton and Nate Nixon return – a group that cleared the way for 3,540 rushing yards and 54 TDs last season.

“The thing that I love about where we are, to me, is if you have a veteran line, you can always fall back and play a real basic wing-T and be good at it,” he said. “When I look at a veteran offensive line, I feel really good going into it. That can carry us as we’re going through some of those growing pains in those other positions.”

Bishop will have to fill the center position on the offensive line. Senior Josh Fraser and sophomore Jarrett Latty are on the chart to replace two-year starter, Dylan Hughes. 

“I feel pretty good all-around offensively,” he said. “It’s the quarterback and center position that really has to evolve for us to get better. The overall line, though, makes me feel better about where we are right now.”

At running back, the Trojans lost a 1,000-yard rusher in Jackson. Jackson rushed for 1,084 yards and 18 TDs. He added another 381 receiving yards and 5 TDs last season. 

Replacing that production won’t be an easy thing to do for the coaching staff, but having a player like JT Fair, Region 7-3A All-Region first team, back makes it a bit easier. 

“You know, having JT back is big for us,” Bishop said. “JT is the only halfback with consistent playing time that we have back. So, that hurts a bit depth-wise, but good to have him back.”

Fair will be the go-to back in the Wing-T offense. He rushed for 901 yards and 11 TDs last season. 

Bishop said sophomore Tate Brooks and Clark Howell will get some carries as well. 

“Tate Brooks has got to be able to play running back for us to give some of those kids a break,” he said. 

On the defensive side of the ball, things are much of the same as the offense. They return eight starters with the first and second level of the defense in good shape. 

“The big thing right now is our front six hasn’t changed much,” he said. “That’s where I think a lot of our strength comes from.”

Holman, Sullens, Luke Gunter and Nixon return to anchor the defensive line.

Carlton and junior Dalton Battle return at linebacker

“The strength of our defense is the front six,” Bishop said. “Almost all those kids have been playing for three years, some four.”

The question, however, is in the secondary. With the loss of leading tackler Jackson (76) and Faulkner, Bishop has moved Luke Volle and Fair from corner to safety. It’s a move Bishop believes will make them much better on the run and some of the pass.

“There are some growing pains in the back half of our defense right now, but I think we’ll be where we need to be,” he said. “If we have to make a change late, we have answers. Those two (Volle and Fair) will make us much better on the run and some of the past, we’ve just got to get our corners to grow some right now.” 

The Trojans’ special teams will have a different look as far as kicking duties go. Sr. Luke Brown will replace Erin Sanchez and Seavey at punter and kicker. Fair is back to return.

“I put a massive part in our practices dealing with special teams,” Bishop said. “I think it can make a difference in games. The difference in the Cherokee game last year was the kickoff return for a TD. I’m putting skill kids on every special team with the exception of PAT – we’ll have our lineman on that unit.”

The Trojans shot themselves in the foot against last season’s region champion, Greater Atlanta Christian and were a play away from knocking off Dawson County in overtime in Dawsonville to take the No. 2 seed out of Region 7-3A.

Regardless of the region seeding, the Trojans still managed to make the second round of the Class 3A playoffs. This year, Bishop says the region is going to be just as tough as last season.

“We had our opportunities against GAC and Dawson last year and didn’t make them. I think the same three that have been there will be there again, but don’t sleep on Fannin County. They could play the spoiler this year.” 

“I know Dawson has lost a lot, but I also know Coach (Sid) Maxwell does a super job,” he said. “I think they will be where they’ve been the last few years. If we stay healthy, this team is capable of making a run. 

Bishop says 2019 success will come down to discipline and passion. 

“We don’t have the greatest athletes in the world, so we have to play a discipline level of football,” he said. “We’ve gone back this summer as if our kids have never played a day in our system. We’re teaching everything from here’s your step and this is your assignment. It’s discipline and believing in it and playing with passion. Our kids have to play with energy to be successful. Those are two things combined into one that is important to us.”