NORTH JOHNSTON HOPES EXPERIENCE PROVES KEY TO SUCCESS IN 2023 By RANDY CAPPS ▸ North Johnston players listen during a postgame huddle last fall. (Photo courtesy Kai Jones/We Journal Great Sports)
2023 schedule
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ENLY — An old prep sports adage is that “the best thing about freshmen and sophomores is that one day they’ll be juniors and seniors.” Last season, North Johnston had a youthful squad that picked up some valuable playing time in the midst of a 3-8 campaign, and head coach Michael Barnett is hoping that real-world experience pays dividends this time around. “The strength will be our experience,” he said. “For the last two years, our starters have predominantly been underclassmen. This year, those underclassmen are now juniors and seniors with a lot of game experience under their belt.” Barnett is relying on a core group of seniors to show the way in 2023. Running back and linebacker Cooper Gibson, running back/defensive end Jordin Moore, running back/defensive back Brayden Cuddington and running back/defensive back Ayden Pone all return after playing key roles last season. Gibson led the Panthers in total touchdowns, Moore was a stalwart on both sides of the ball, Cuddington was the primary
Aug. 18.........South Lenoir Aug. 25........at Rosewood Aug. 31.........at Midway Sept. 8.........BYE Sept. 15........at Hobbton Sept. 22.......Lakewood Sept. 29.......Spring Creek* Oct. 6...........Beddingfield* Oct. 13..........at Goldsboro* Oct. 20.........at Eastern Wayne* Oct. 27.........Princeton* * - denotes conference game
receiving threat and Pone was the anchor of “a good secondary that is now older and better,” according to Barnett. Noah Hales (G/DE), Wyatt Hales (TE/DE), Tray Watson (RB/DE), Austin Lett (G), Daniel Estala (G) and Zack Logan (LB) will also be major contributors this season. While Princeton is the oddson favorite in the Neuse Six Conference, Barnett is optimistic about where his team is as the new season dawns. “We are looking forward to improving on last year's record,” he said. “We feel that if we stay healthy, we should have our best season in five years.” With the returning experience on the roster, this year’s squad may just prove him right.
PRINCETON SEEKS TO RELOAD FOR ANOTHER RUN IN 2A By RANDY CAPPS
teams, junior varsity and even defense, and the latest player to RINCETON — Change is a fundamental part of high school arrive in the Bulldog backfield is Kaydn Haire. He was fourth on the football, and replacing player production from season to season is team with 51 carries, 487 yards and seven scores last fall, in addition to a problem for every team. his work at safety. Princeton’s Travis Gaster’s “After (Haire), it’s going to be situation, however, is a unique running back by committee,” Gaster one. The Bulldogs’ modified single said. “We won’t have anybody wing produces gaudy rushing with that kind of crazy stats, but statistics, and heading into 2023, they will need to replace their three we’ll have several guys who can contribute with the ball in their leading rushers who accounted hands.” for 600 carries, 5,765 yards and 79 Mitchell threw 23 passes from touchdowns the “Fred” position last fall, in “The production that we addition to the all-important role graduated is pretty much of lead blocker for more than 500 unprecedented,” Gaster said. carries. Marty Holland has been “You’re not going to have another working in that role during the Christian Perris waiting in the preseason. wings. Or Jaydon Brooks or Peyton “That’s kind of the committee Mitchell. It will be more on our big part,” Gaster said. “(He’s) done heavies up front to create more for well in the spring and the summer our running backs.” there. He was our leading tackler at linebacker. He’s a hard-nosed ▸ Princeton's kid, and that’s what we need. Kadyn Haire That dude’s a glorified checks into fullback, but instead of a game last fall. He's the giving them the ball on Bulldogs' a dive (play), he gets to leading throw the ball 12 times returning a year.” rusher heading into Defensively, linebackers this season. Jack Hallow and (Photo Holland are the courtesy focal points. Kai Jones/ 2023 schedule We Journal Holland tallied Great Sports) Aug. 18.........South Johnston 123 tackles last fall, and Hallow Aug. 25........Harnett Central (36 stops) is Dalton Bebonis, Aug. 31.........Rosewood a two-year a three-year Sept. 8.........BYE starter. Gaster starter, anchors the Sept. 15........at Richlands also singled offensive line at Sept. 22.......at Clinton out Haire and center while Hunter Sept. 29.......at Eastern Wayne* Jacob Jones at Raynor and Tyler Oct. 6...........Goldsboro* safety and the Norris also bring growth and Oct. 13..........Spring Creek* a bit of experience improvement and grit to the unit. Oct. 20.........at Beddingfield* of Grey “With those Oct. 27.........at North Johnston* Sullivan on the guys, it’s more * - denotes conference game defensive line. about relationships, Two years work ethic and coachability at that position than it ago, McKinley Uzzell made 89 of is about perfect body size and body his 90 extra points while converting three field goals, and Gaster is type,” Gaster said. “We look for hoping to have Robert Govan as people who are willing to be nasty. Not in a negative way, but in a work a weapon in a similar vein this season. way. Be willing to go to work every “He’s put in a lot of work this day to improve their craft and be offseason, and I’m looking forward excellent in what we want them to to seeing it all come together on do. Those guys fit that mold.” the field for him this season,” he The road to glory as a Princeton tailback is paved with work on scout said.
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