HEAD COACH: Matt Turner ♦ CAREER RECORD: 3-17, third season ♦ 2022 SEASON: 2-8
RABBITTOWN, Ga. — Is 2023 the year East Hall coach Matt Turner has been waiting on?
It may still be too early to know if the Vikings are ready to challenge for their first playoff berth since 2017. But if the summer is any indication, Turner hopes they are closer to the playoffs than the past two seasons, when they managed just three total wins in a rebuilding process.
“Our numbers are up, and we’ve had a really good summer of practice, and there has been some great competition at just about every position on the field,” Turner said as they entered fall camp. “Offensively, I really like where we are as a whole. The defense is a little behind where we were hoping for, but I think that group is still on an upward trend from where we have been.”
Over the past decade, the Vikings have been known for an explosive offense, but injuries decimated East Hall’s air attack in 2022 as they scored their fewest points (101, 10.1 points/game) since 2009. But the defense improved by a touchdown over the 2021 season despite allowing 428 points (42.8 ppg).
With a talented and healthy, two-headed quarterback monster in sophomore Jamarcus Harrison (766 yards passing, 7 TD, 12 INT; 298 yards rushing) and junior quarterback Peyton Llewallyn (685 yards passing, 3 TD, 7 INT), Turner knows he has the makings for an explosive group.
Juniors Caden Daniels (35 rec., 423 yards, 6 TD), Jevon Harrison (12 rec., 127 yards), and sophomore Chasen Jones should provide a solid and athletic receiving group. The main concern entering fall is the offensive line, which returns just one in senior Jake Jones.
“Our skill group is ready to go,” Turner said. “I feel like we have some dynamic playmakers, and I expect us to be much more explosive this season. The only negative right now is that the offensive line is still a puzzle. Our goal in the fall is to put the pieces together on that unit.”
Defensively, the secondary is the top priority in the fall as they battle inexperience. The defensive line also is being retooled, as Chasen Jones and senior Carson Cash are the only returnees up front. Junior Aaron Brock could be one to watch for as the season progresses.
“We’re still working to get the defense where it needs to be,” Turner said. “We have some guys that I think will be really good; they just need more playing time. But again, I feel like we’re ahead of where we were last year and have improved a lot from 2021. We’re not there yet, but we’re moving forward.”
GRADUATION STINGS
WR Temeris Morrison, OL/DL Caleb Pruitt, OL/DL Jake Evans, WR Alex Stoudenmire
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS
The Vikings had over two dozen turnovers in 2022 with a young unit that also got hit hard by injuries. To have any chance in a rugged Region 8-4A, they will have to improve on that. But with Harrison and Llewallyn and a plethora of options in the passing game all a year older, if they can cut that in half or less, they could be a dangerous and explosive unit once again.
“The real key (last year) was turnovers and completion rate. We only completed 45 percent of our passes,” Turner stated. “We had 19 interceptions, and we fumbled six times inside the 5-yard line as we were going in for touchdowns. I feel so far this spring and summer, all of those guys have really made big strides.”
DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND?
The Vikings made marked improvement in 2022, shaving nearly 10 ppg off their 2021 totals. But they will need to continue that turnaround in 2023 in what will be another tough region with some dynamic offenses. Turner is expecting just that.
“We have more experience pretty much across the entire defense, so it’s time for them to step up and make some plays,” he said.
SPEED WILL BE VIKINGS BIGGEST STRENGTH
Skilled positions — Speed has long been an asset for the Vikings, and 2023 will be no exception. It could be their biggest weapon on offense with a slew of quick, shifty receivers to go with a pair of QBs that also can hurt defenses with their legs. If they can produce multiple chunk plays a game, they could be a difficult group to handle for any defense.
WHERE’S THE BEEF?
Or, more directly, who will protect Harrison and Llewallyn so they can find their playmakers downfield? With only one returning starter on the O-line, finding quality blockers upfront may be the No. 1 priority for Turner and the offense in the fall.
TOUGH SCHEDULE ONCE AGAIN
Region 8-4A, nuff said. The Vikings went winless in region play in 2022. And several teams are expecting to be better in 2023. However, if they can sweep their two non-region games against West Hall and Johnson, they could go into their region opener at home against Chestatee with a chance to build some momentum. Road games at North Hall, Cherokee Bluff, and East Forsyth will be supreme challenges, as all three are expected to be playoff contenders. They may need to steal at least one, if not two, of those to get into the playoff race.
WHAT’S TRENDING
It’s been a tough two seasons to this point for Turner, who inherited a total rebuild in 2021. However, despite all the injuries, they managed to improve from 1-9 to 2-8 last year. They have the pieces in place to start to get back to those offensive juggernaut seasons of 2016-17 when they averaged 40.2 ppg. The defense improved by nearly two touchdowns, and if they can shave another 10 points off that, they could be on their way back to being playoff competitive.
