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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Spring Football Fling: Northside-WR should contend in Region 1-AAAAA
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-Warner Robins • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at Northside
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Northside in ‘08? How will the Eagles fare in 1-AAAAA? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
There hasn’t been a team to move to the highest classification and win a state title since Decatur in 1950. But there’s rarely been a team better suited for the job than Northside, the champion the past two seasons in Class AAAA.
Northside won 54 of 57 games the past four seasons and became only the seventh Georgia school in history to put consecutive 15-0 seasons together.
Graduated are a trio of legendary figures in Warner Robins - quarterback Marques Ivory, tailback Tijuan Green, receiver Nick Bass, all members of the first-team AAAA all-state team.
But Northside won’t enter the season unarmed. Most of the defensive starters return, and defensive tackle Abry Jones (committed to Georgia) and defensive end/linebacker Eric Fields (leaning toward Clemson) are the best pair of front-seven defenders in the state.
“We’re certainly projecting and hoping those guys [on defense] will be the catalyst or really the part of the team that does good until everybody else gets experience,” Northside coach Conrad Nix said.
Northside’s schedule will include three reigning state champions: Booker T. Washington of Florida (Sept. 5 or 6), Carver of Columbus (Sept. 12) and Lowndes (Oct. 3).
Northside-Warner Robins Eagles
Region 1-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 12-21.
Last year’s record: 15-0, won the Class AAAA title for the second straight year.
Reclassification challenge: Moving up to Class AAAAA and into the state’s toughest region. Northside played in the highest classification through 2003 and was a perennial state contender, but it was not until dropping into Class AAAA that Northside won its first state title. And Northside has never been in the region with Valdosta and Lowndes.
Working on: Joe Scott will settle in as the new quarterback. The senior started seven games last season when Ivory was injured and was 56-of-114 for 797 yards. He’s a drop-back passer who won’t run much. Northside also must replace both wide receivers, the starting backfield and four of five starting linemen on offense. The most intriguing competition will be at tailback. The top candidates to replace Green are seniors Xavier Hawkins, Xavier Bacon and Reshaud Young and junior Renis Perry. Hawkins is a slashing runner, the most similar in style to Green. “Not quite as strong at the point of attack but does a good job recognizing daylight,” Nix said. Bacon is more about strength and speed. Young is athletic, but raw. Perry is “a tough kid, not real big, but pretty good speed,” Nix said.
Key starters lost: QB Marques Ivory (Jacksonville State); RB Tijuan Green (NW Mississippi JC); WR Kevyn Cooper (Jacksonville State); WR Nick Bass (Georgia Southern); RT Jerome Bibbins (Georgia Southern).
Key starters returning: DE Eric Fields; LB Darius Ivey; DT Abry Jones; S Randal McBride; TE/P Evan Arthur; DB K.J. Morton; DT Anton Williams; PK Devon Pike; G Shedrick Jones.
2008 strengths: Defense, talent supply, tradition. Fields and Jones.
2008 weaknesses: Northside doesn’t have the playmakers at quarterback, tailback and receiver that elevated this program from very good to extraordinary the past two seasons. There are also a number of new starters who are talented but unproven. “Guys like Eric Fields and Abry Jones have to live up to expectations, and other guys have got to fill in,” Nix said. “Abry didn’t start his sophomore year but stepped up [last season as a junior]. We’re going to have to have guys step up like that.”
This season’s projection: Northside should contend for a state title, but the team to beat in Class AAAAA will be new region rival Lowndes, the defending champ. Region 1-AAAAA is so deep that even a playoff berth isn’t assured for Northside, but expect the Eagles to be a Top 10 team with a realistic shot at a third straight title.
Photos: A look at Northside
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
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Northside in ‘08? How will the Eagles fare in 1-AAAAA? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: Marist’s lines strong, ‘weaknesses everywhere else’
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-Warner Robins • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at Marist
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Marist in ‘08? Will the War Eagles re-energize? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
For most teams, an 8-3 season and a trip to the playoffs would be deemed a success.
Not so at Marist.
It was only the fourth time since coach Alan Chadwick took over the program in 1985 that the War Eagles lost out of the playoffs in the first round, and it was the lowest victory total at Marist since 1993.
So the pressure is on as spring practice begins next week to build a team that will live up to Marist’s high expectations.
“It was disappointing to go out in the first round because we felt like we had a team that could have gone a little further,” said Chadwick, who has a 259-43 record in 23 seasons. “[Tradition] helps to challenge them more to reach their potential. It is a constant struggle because you have to have a chip on your shoulder, and people are looking to knock it off. You can’t let down, and everyone is going to bring their A-game at you. When you don’t respect that, that is when you are going to get in trouble.”
The War Eagles lost quarterback Cooper Taylor and halfbacks Derek Heyden, Kevin Lanier and Neil Schuster. Vying for the quarterback position are senior Kyle Farmer and junior Sam McNearny. But Farmer, who also pitches for the War Eagles baseball team, likely will miss all of the spring workouts.
The quarterback battle should carry on through the beginning of fall practice, and Chadwick said that the two could make a tough package for opposing teams to prepare for, if both are used.
Marist War Eagles
Region 6-AAAA
Spring practice dates: May 7-20.
Last year’s record: 8-3, lost 24-7 to Habersham Central in the first round of the playoffs.
Reclassification challenge: St. Pius, Washington and Mays are no longer in Marist’s region, but that doesn’t make Region 6-AAAA any less difficult. But instead of playing rival St. Pius deeper in the season, the two teams will meet each other in the season-opener in a game that could set the tone for the rest of the year.
Working on: The top priority is in the offensive backfield, where fullback Matt Connors (5-10, 185) is the only returner from a team that averaged 28.9 points per game last season. The offensive and defensive lines are solid, but as coach Alan Chadwick said, the skill level and experience of his offensive backfield is “nonexistent.”
Key starters lost: Cooper Taylor QB; Derek Heyden HB; Kevin Lanier HB; Neil Schuster HB; Joseph Bailey OL; Jordan Phillips DE; Jeff Rummel OL; Kyle Betz OL.
Key starters returning: Jeff Ervin (6-2, 210) DE; Spencer Mitchell (5-10, 175) LB; Matt Connors (5-10, 185) FB; Joe Pfeffer (6-1, 210) C; Jeff Ducote (5-10, 190) DL; Philip Wood (5-10, 200) DL; Brady Herman (6-1, 210) LB; Kevin Allman (6-2, 180) DB.
2008 strengths: The strengths will be in the lines. The defense should be strong with six of the front seven starters returning. The offensive line should also be improved with Joe Pfeffer anchoring the team at center.
2008 weaknesses: “Our weaknesses are everywhere else,” said Chadwick after praising his lines. None of the halfbacks who will run the ball in the spring have started a game, and for the second year in a row, Marist is searching for a new quarterback.
This season’s projection: There is no reason to think that Marist will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
Photos: A look at Marist
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
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Marist in ‘08? Will the War Eagles re-energize? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
