Banks County at a turning point in 2020?

HOMER — Jay Reid did not shy away from his expectations.

“This is a turning point season for us,” the now third-year Banks County head coach said about the upcoming 2020 season. “We established ourselves as a staff and with a culture that is starting to show up in the right ways. We are right where we want to be.”

But after a 3-2 start to the season, the Leopards dropped their final five games to finish with a 3-7 record in 2019, It did mark their fewest wins in a season since an 0-10 campaign in 2013 but they were just three plays from a playoff spot.

“We struggled on both sides with some injuries and had a lot of younger guys playing as well,” Reid said. “But that also means we had guys get a lot of experience they might not otherwise have gotten. It just depends on how you want to look at things.”

Well, there’s no limit to the value placed on experience, and except for five-time region champion Rabun County, Banks County may have the most returning in Region 8-2A as a result of the 2019 finish. They have seven returning starters or significant contributors returning in 2020.

However, with the departure of offensive coordinator and wing-T guru Kerry Kidd, they will be switching to a more multiple-look offense. They managed just 15.1 points a game in 2019 and the offense will have to be more potent to keep up in a high-flying region.

The offense returns three across the line in seniors Josh Stapleton, Tanner Kaminski, and Dawson Welborn, as well as senior tight end Wyatt Whitfield. Junior Bowen Roberts, who started the final six games of 2019 after Sawyer Pace went down, returns. Senior halfback Jace Bennett and junior tailback Roman Haynes offer a solid one-two punch out of the backfield while senior Carter Stroud gives the offense a playmaker at receiver.

“Kerry did a great job for us but we felt we needed to go in another direction,” Reid said. “After Bowen took over I felt he got better each week. He can run and throw so we feel like we can open the offense up a little more this year. 

The group as a whole has grown and gained a lot of experience last year. I really feel like we’re going to be much better this year with some of the changes we made.”

On defense, the Leopards will look to be even more physical and aggressive behind senior linebackers Bennett and Welborn. The secondary will be led by senior cornerback Stroud and junior safety Cade Herrien while the line will be anchored by Kaminski and senior noseguard Ben Carlan.

“Much like the offense, I think the defense is going to be better just because of the experience they got last year and the growth they have shown since last year,” Reid said.

With all of the above said, however, little of that will decide if the Leopards can get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Because of Riverside Military Academy canceling all of its fall sports because of the COVID-19 virus, the remaining four teams in 8-2A -- the Leopards, Elbert County, Union County, and Rabun County -- all will qualify for the playoffs regardless of record.

“Well, no one wants to get into the playoffs like that and you have to feel bad for the Riverside kids,” Reid said. “But it is what it is. But it also doesn’t mean all of the teams will just take it easy. I expect it will the same hard-hitting games they always are.”

That could give them the Leopards the opportunity to work in some new wrinkles on the revamped offense and rest key players heading into the playoffs.

They have the toughest draw of the four teams with huge road contests against Rabun County and Elbert County.