SALISBURY POST
SOUTH ROWAN RAIDERS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010 • 21D
Ronnie GallaGheR/SALISBURY POST
Sophomore quarterback Nathan Lambert, center, will look toward receiver Clay Wilson (7) and do-everything Mark McDaniel (2).
SOUTH FROM 20D that’s about it. South graduated nearly everyone except manager Tyler Rea, chaplain Joe Mason and trainer Larry Sides. The school phone number is still 704-857-1161, but everything else has changed. Rollins is the first to admit that quarterback Blake Houston (South’s all-time total offense leader), powerful running backs Thomas Lowe and D’Andre Harris and smooth receiver B.J. Grant won’t be easily replaced. Still, optimism practically drips off Rollins’ shaved head. “We’ve built every year I’ve been here,” he said. “We won three games in 2006, when everybody said we couldn’t win one. We got better the next year. Then we got five wins under our belts in ’08. Then we won nine last season.” Since South graduated a stellar senior class that also included linebacker
Cadarreus Mason and versatile Quan Glaspy, it’s logically time to start over, but Rollins isn’t allowing himself to think like that. He doesn’t want to revisit 3-8 — or worse. “I realize there are a lot of people out there telling us we’re not gonna be any good this year,” he said. “But we’re taking it more like we’re gonna keep building off last year’s success. Our kids are looking at it like there’s a good tradition to continue here.” What does South have going for it? Well, a lot of rising sophomores dedicated their summer to preparing themselves to survive on varsity Fridays. Twelve are on the roster. “There’s a lot of 10s, more than usual, but they’re good 10s,” Rollins said. It’s also a plus that the coaches, except for veterans Tim Corriher and Danny Crosby, are back. The staff also got a boost from the return of defensive coordinator Barry Lipscomb from military service in Iraq. He came
home in June. “That probably helps me even more than our kids,” Rollins said. “I stuck mostly with the defense last year, but I’ll be able to spend a lot more time with the offense now.” The offense will need all the wisdom he can offer. It has zero returning starters. That’s right, zero. Pope did start on the offensive line last season, but he’ll anchor this year’s defense at middle linebacker. Who’s the quarterback? The job belongs to 6-foot1 sophomore Nathan Lambert. “He’s come along well,” Rollins said. “He went to several summer camps, including the Peyton Manning Camp. He’d been throwing baseballs, but they got his throwing revamped for football.” The backup QB is sophomore athlete Eric Tyler, a starter on the defensive unit. The fullback is critical in the Raiders’ triple-option, double-wing offense that is modeled after the famed “Red Bone” employed by
South Point, Rollins’ alma mater. Rollins expects 213-pound sophomore Ricky Sherrill to be a fine fullback — if he’s available. Dillon Wright is the other option. Frontrunners for the wingback jobs are sophomore Dominique Garlin and junior Brandon Williams. They have talent, but they’re 40-50 pounds lighter than Lowe and Harris. Coach Jarrod Smith is a determined offensive line coach, and he’ll work overtime to build a new unit from scratch. Ryan Atkinson, a 195pound left tackle, is expected to lead the group. He’s a senior who’s worked in the past on defense. The right tackle will be 203-pound sophomore Devin Mason, Cadarreus’ brother. If genes many anything, he’ll be a good one. The starting right guard is junior Sonny Pope (200). Big sophomore Clint Meece (250) is counted on at left guard, with junior Trevor Simmons (300) set at center.
O-line depth will be supplied by Lynn Gutierrez, Jacob Stubbs, C.T. Welch, Daniel Litaker and Cameron Moore. “They’re learning, and they’re getting better,” Rollins said. “In our system, they’re the most important guys.” Seniors Clay Wilson, Casey Raymond and Jeremy Boulware and sophomore Dillon Parker are top candidates for the two wide receiver spots. Henderson, a starting DB, will also play a lot of wideout. “Henderson has great hands,” Rollins said. “Parker looked great in the seven-onsevens.” Logan Beck and Houston Allen provide depth. The kicking game is still up in the air. Zach McMullen and Daniel Mullis, who has been slowed by a back ailment, are the most likely kickers on the roster. Rollins also is auditioning soccer players. Defensively, South has de-
See SOUTH, 22D