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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Parkview’s offense veteran, defense young
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at Parkview
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Parkview in ‘08? Can the Panthers’ young “D” step up? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Consecutive exits in the first round of the state playoffs are not something the Parkview football program is used to. But that’s the current situation in Lilburn after losses to Etowah and Walton the last two seasons.
In 2008, the good news is on offense, where nine starters return, including standout running backs Brandon Jacobs and TaRon Squires. Clayton Wilkin and Kalik Barnes will stage a healthy quarterback competition when spring camp opens in one week.
The bad news is defense, where cornerbacks Squires and Julian Vann return to a unit that allowed 15 points a game last season.
“We’re going to be young on [defense],” coach Cecil Flowe said. “We’ve had to do that before, and we’ve been young on offense. We’ll make it go.”
Parkview will depend on several sophomores, including Kendrick Adams, A.J. Carroll, Walter McGriff and Justin Peurone, to win a starting jobs during spring camp. Flowe and his staff made a conscious effort to start the spring season later so the younger players could work in the weight room.
“We used to have spring early-to-late January, early February,” Flowe said. “[But] that’s why we’re having spring late so they can grow some more physically.”
Parkview Panthers
Region 8-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 5-16.
Last year’s record: 7-4, lost in the first round to Walton.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: Finding a quarterback. Rising senior Clayton Wilkin lost his starting job late in the 2007 season, then injured his ACL. Now Wilkin will have to cmpete with rising junior Kalik Barnes for the starting job. The defense will have to replace six starters.
Key starters lost: WR/QB Derrick Heitkamp; SS Brandon Evans; K/P Jordan Stowe; DE Brian Farris.
Key starters returning: QB Wilkin; RB/LB Brandon Jacobs; RB/DB TaRon Squires.
2008 strengths: The Panthers should be solid in the backfield with seniors Jacobs and Squires (combined for nearly 1,600 rushing yards) getting the majority of the carries.
2008 weaknesses: The defense will be, for the most part, young and inexperienced. But Flowe is hoping a strong rising sophomore class can help soften the blow of losing six defensive starters.
This season’s projection: With Jacobs and Squires and an experienced offensive front, Parkview will be able to run the football. The healthy return of Wilkin from ACL surgery or the emergence of Barnes under center could determine whether Parkview is a good offensive team.
Comment: “You have to put some guys mentally and physically in the mix and see if they’ll mix it up,” Flowe said. “You can see if they’re coachable and then you’ve got a foundation.”
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
Photos: A look at Parkview
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Parkview in ‘08? Can the Panthers’ young “D” step up? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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By Old Panther
April 29, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Wow, the Panthers lost better players than listed. What about Winton Stewart-LB, Andrew Roesch-FS, Jason Veal and Luke Keller. Yes the Panthers will struggle and should be an interesting year. Good luck young cats!
By T.J.
April 29, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
This is not an optimistic article. I thought for sure there would be more veterans. Two seasons ago I thought I remembered a large number of sophmores were playing varsity. That would make them seniors now. Guess they moved to Brookwood? It is getting hard to track players year to year in Gwinnett. Do not want to insinuate anything but I hear players move on to neighboring schools often when they are not happy. Lets face it, Parkview has struggled the last couple of years. I need to figure out which Gwinnett bandwagon I will ride on. Guess Parkview will not be it. Brookwood looks to be rebuilding. Norcross, Grayson, or North Gwinnett? Hope to see someting next week on North Gwinnett or Grayson. Word on the street is they are rebuilding as well.
By some sense
April 29, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
Parkview loses to Etowah and Walton in state playoff first round games each of the last two years; Parkview loses to Gwinnett County demographics forever.
The once proud Big Orange Jungle is now infested w/ gangs, miscreants, and ne’er-do-well’s. Much more important at P’view now to wear bling, grills, and exposed underwear to helmets, shoulder pads, and plastic mouth pieces.
Meadowcreek comes to Lilburn; Berkmar’s already there.
By sense?
April 29, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
so, what you’re saying is there’s too many black kids at Parkview? Why don’t you just come out and say it instead of using phrases like ne’er-do-wells. Who made that post, the late, great Robert Frost?
And Meadowcreek comes to Lilburn; Berkmar’s already there? what does that even mean?
By No sense
April 29, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
That was just an awful post.
By 2007 Record
April 30, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
I saw PV play a number of times last year. Their 7-4 record last season was deceiving in that PV was the the worst 7-4 team in the state. Each time I saw them play they were man-handled (no pun intended Coach F). Weak, slow and no go. Expect much the same in 2008. The recruits they use to get are now going to the newer high schools in northern Gwinnett county. Like Valdosta, their time has come and, bling-bling, gone.
By A
May 6, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
What a lot of donkey twaddle. A) Parkview a gheto school!?! Is this an attempt at the “big lie”, by someone with an agenda? B) Its not demographics but population. Parkview’s at 2600, Brookwood’s at 3600, Collins Hill, Mill Creek and their ilk are near or over 4000. So inherently, the school will be at a disadvantage. What keeps us in the running these days is the strength of the programs, and the commitment of the comunity, which are second to none. C) Since, traditionally about half of Parkviews starters go both ways, the “Young” Defense thing is somewhat misleading. PV is hip deep in running backs, and how well the team does will depend on how big/strong/fast the linemen are.
By SouthGARules
May 7, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
A: Lowndes has about 2700 students, & they win state titles so Parkview with 2600 is not a disadvantage. Parkview & Brookwood are two of the few schools in Gwinnett that have not been affected by redistricting in recent years. TJ: I would jump on the North Gwinnett, Norcross or Peachtree Ridge bandwagon. They will do well until they get spanked in the state finals by Lowndes or one of the other Region 1-AAAAA teams. Grayson has to get over the Brookwood hurdle. Region 7-AAAAA is the 2nd best AAAAA region in the state.
By Orange
May 8, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
Kalik should fit in the scheme “Very Good”. He has a strong arm and very mindful of the coverage. I just hope all of the talent will not sit another year on the sideline. On the offensive side of ball - Where were the OL? As soon as BJ got the ball - WHAMMM!! The defense kept us in alot of games (Winton, BJ, Squires, Wells) This will tire him or hurt him playing on both sides of the ball (as good as he is-BJ) with no offensive scheme. I hope there is one!! Good Luck future Juniors and Seniors!
By Donkey Twaddle
May 10, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Haha Donkey Twaddle, we thought that was really funny.
Well first of all the offensive game of PV has gone down since the graduating class of 2006 left, and the new season began. The biggest mistake was replacing the senior quarterback Mitchell Farris or junior Derick Heitkamp with the supposedly promising sophomore QB Clayton Wilkin. The idea of having a sophomore grow into the position of QB sounded good at the time, however that obviously didn’t quite pan out for Ol’ Cecil. It ended up hurting more than helping, and we made the mistake more than once. I say we keep the tradition of replacing the senior quarterback, with putting Kalik Barnes in his rightful position of starting QB.
By Orange
May 16, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
You hit it right on the NOSE, DONKEY TWADDLE.. It should not have taken a genious to recognize that, you can’t sit in the pocket and wait for Daybreak - because “your boy ain’t open”. That’s not talent.. It is definetly going to be some serious changes this year… You wrote it perfect.
By Old Timer
May 17, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
There is alot of talent with the upcoming junior class, and rising sophmores. What about Carroll and Newsome, seems like they have some wind under their legs to help out the offensive along with BJ and Squirres? We should have a solid defensive lineup. Can’t wait til the season…