Wednesday, August 21, 2013 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 3C
FOOTBALL 2013/HERITAGE SCHOOL
HERITAGE SCHOOL HAWKS
GISA Region 2-AAA Head coach KEvin Prisant
The 2013 HERITAGE SCHOOL HAWKS
8 reasons to push on
A year after soaring to new heights, Hawks rededicate themselves following tragic loss of teammate By DOUG GORMAN dgorman@newnan.com
I
t will be difficult — and in some cases near impossible — for The Heritage School’s football to duplicate what they accomplished last season. Just don’t tell that to Hawks players, who remain invested in goals that have remained the same since the end of the 2012 season. Short of a championship trophy, last fall truly provided every hope and dream envisioned when deciding to begin a football program more than seven years ago. Heritage jumped out on an eight-game unbeaten streak, earned their first playoff victory and then another Tyler Henson for good measure during an 11-2 record and a berth in the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AAA state title game. Already in his third year as head coach while still pushing 30 years of age, Kevin Prisant, has led the Hawks to 19 victories over two seasons. But his program has yet to face the kind of disadvantages they’ll be up against this fall. The offseason, however, has been a somber reminder of a need to push forward past a series of setbacks starting with the final loss, continuing through a large graduating class and centered around saying goodbye to a fallen teammate. The tragic death of rising senior Tyler Henson last May in a car accident still weighs heavily this year, from the No. 8 stitched on the sleeve of coaches’ polo shirts along with the words “Be Somebody,” to Henson’s jersey prominent in front-row center for this year’s team photo. An All-State player on offense and defense at end, Henson’s presence is felt throughout the program. It’s been as much a rallying point for a roster that went from double-digit numbers among senior to less than a handful. "We are doing a lot of things to keep his memory alive,” Prisant said. A trip to preseason camp at Georgia Southwestern in Americus was as much a bonding exercise, as well as a chance to evaluate the returning roster, which includes only four seniors after losing a group that included 11 starters. “This year, we just had to do a lot more teaching at camp than in past years,” he said. “We had to find guys who can step up and play. We saw what guys in seven on seven could do, but at camp we got to see them in pads. We really had some leaders emerge.” Adapting, however, is something the Hawks excelled at last season, partly due to the play of junior Brad Macke. Macke led Heritage to its
2013 Roster
No. Name 1 Chaz Bankston 2 Hamp Smith 3 Harrison Holland 4 Jake Henderson 5 Haydon Stanley 10 Brad Macke 11 David Bready 12 Peyton Henson 14 David Barber 15 Carlisle Taylor 17 Tristan Stoffle 21 Matthew Burns 23 Chase Evans 27 Trevor Sawyers 28 Matt Henson 32 Dalton Trammell 33 Jake Trammell 34 Will Haugen 35 Davis McChondichie 44 Trevor Henson 47 Jay Macke 50 Hamp Carter 54 Caleb Woodruff 56 Patrick Pitzer 63 James Teirnan 66 Ryan Blackstone 74 Thomas Gruber 81 Kirby Arnall 82 Cole Jones 90 Harrison Schoolar
Pos. WR/LB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB QB/DB WR/DB/PK K/P WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/LB OL/DL OL/DL RB/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/LB TE/LB OL/DL
Yr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr.
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
With a roster now dominated by younger players and only four
seniors, newcomers and underclassmen will be counted on to fill vacancies throughout the starting lineup.
2013 SCHEDULE Aug. 30 At Flint River Sept. 6 At Dominion Christian Sept. 13 At Community Christian Sept. 20 Dawson Street Sept. 27 Southland Academy Oct. 11 Mount de Sales* Oct. 18 At Stratford Academy* Oct. 25 Westminster * Nov. 1 Tattnall Square* Nov. 8 Trinity Christian* * Region 2-AAA Game
imagine the possibilities
Staff: Kevin Prisant (Head Coach, 3rd season), D.J. Clay, (Defensive Coordinator, defensive backs), Jeb Moody (defensive line), Murray Parks (assistant line) , Drew Henderson (running backs), Bart Henson (linebackers), Dean Henson (offensive personnel/ packages), Nathan Watts (offensive line).
undefeated start with senior quarterback Joe Bonner nursing a shoulder injury. He finished with 356 yards passing and six touchdowns while hitting just under 58-percent of his throws, a hair better than Bonner’s accuracy. “He has really stepped up into a leadership role,” said Prisant. “He has sort of taken control. He might run the ball or pass the ball 20 times game. I know that is a lot of snaps, but we are trying to play a little faster this year as far as getting the play calls in. We aren’t speeding things up, we are just trying to get out there and get the play off.” Heritage will also get leadership from its four seniors, two of which start at linebacker for the Hawks — David Bready and Dalton Trammell. “They have great work ethic,” Prisant said. Starting anew, though, begins with understanding that a talented senior class led by Candler Rich, now at Yale, won’t be walking back on the field, and that it may take two or three faces at running back to replace the 5,000 all-purpose yards and 100 touchdowns he racked up over the last five years of football at Heritage. “You don’t replace Candler,” Prisant said. “We have guys, who are going to be playing 100 snaps a game, and then getting on the special teams.” Bready will be one many who will seldom leave the field for the Hawks this year, expected to pick up his share of carries again on offense while also returning to his starting linebacker position. He finished as Heritage’s second-leading rusher with
459 yards with four touchdowns. He also had another score among his eight pass receptions. Bready may see his snaps at receiver increase with a group of young backs that excelled at the JV and feeder program level ready to add depth. Sophomore Matt Burns is one of the players slated to take over in the backfield for Rich. He is getting a lot of carries,” Prisant said. “We are confident in his ability.” Of his 15 varsity carries last season, Burns averaged just under seven yards an attempt. He has great vision,” Prisant said. “He cuts with purpose. He isn’t just a speed guy, he is a true running back. He is going to be one of the guys, who carries the load.” Freshman Chase Evans is working his way in at fullback during his varsity debut. While the backfield won’t be able to duplicate the type of breakaway speed that Rich possessed, Prisant still feels his flex-option offense can be successful with sustained drives that both chew up the clock and keep opposing defenses on the field. “We are going to have to be a drive team this year,” Prisant said. “We are giving Brad some freedom to do some stuff, but we have to keep the football.” Waiting in the wings at quarterback behind Macke is sophomore Peyton Henson, a talented baseball player in the spring. The line of scrimmage is one area of concern, with the bulk of last year’s starters to be replaced.
See HAWKS, Page 4C
Just as students are encouraged to challenge themselves academically, they
are also given the opportunity to reach their highest potential in athletics. In the school’s 12-sport athletic program, any student who wants to participate in competitive sports may do so, and his or her skills are strengthened in the process. The Heritage School offers three competitive football programs, at the Lower School, Middle School, and Varsity levels.
Come See What We’re About 2013 Heritage Hawks Varsity Football Schedule *All games at 7:30 unless otherwise noted Date Date
Opponent Opponent
Location Location
August 16
Frederica
Away - Sparta (8:00pm)
August 30
Flint River
Away
September 6
Dominion
Away
September 13
Community Christian
Home
September 20
Dawson Street
Home
September 27
Southland
Home
October 4
Mount de Sales
Homecoming
October 18
Stratford
Away
October 25
Westminster
Home
November 1
Tattnall
Away Home
November 8
Trinity
November 15
Playoffs
November 22
Playoffs
November 29
State Championship
The Heritage School is an independent, college preparatory school serving students ages 4 through twelfth grade. We are dually accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).
2903 HIGHWAY 29 N • NEWNAN, GA 30263 770-253-9898 • www.heritagehawks.org