REGION 1-4A
Northside, Columbus
Patriots SCHEDULE
Photography by: George McDuffie
REGION 1-4A
Kinnett Stadium
Written by: Beth Welch
8/23
-
Shaw
8/31
-
Spencer
9/7
-
Cairo
9/14
@
Westover
9/21
@
Harris County
9/28
@
Carver, Columbus
10/4
-
Dougherty
10/12
@
Americus-Sumter
10/26
@
Hardaway
11/2
-
Columbus
2017 Overall Record
2017 Region Record
8-3
5-2
Players To Watch
RB
OL
DB
Fred Davis
Jason Webb
Tucker Copeland
Last season was a great year for the Northside High School Patriots. The 2017 football team matched the highest win total in the program’s history, made the playoffs for the fourth straight year, and went undefeated in the city of Columbus. Several seniors signed to play at the next level, including top prospect Caleb Johnson, a DL/LB who committed to Auburn. Then, head football coach Morgan Ingram announced he was resigning after five years of leading the program. Ingram remained as the school’s athletic director and was instrumental in naming his successor, David Nurnberg, whom Ingram coached during his days at Columbus High School. Fortunately for Nurnberg, he inherits a team that will feature seven returning starters on offense and five defensive starters. Among those starters is quarterback Chandler Blanton, whose 2017 debut enables him to return as a more experienced and tested leader of the team. Nurnberg said that one lesson his team learned last year might seem a bit simplistic, but it was necessary in a region where there is no shortage of talent and grit. “We found out that we’re a team who believes we can win and has the level of commitment to make that happen,” he said.
Head Coach: David Nurnberg
Shaw
Raiders SCHEDULE
Photography courtesy of hudl.com
Kinnett Stadium
Written by: Beth Welch
8/16
-
Kendrick
8/23
@
Northside, Columbus
9/6
-
Dougherty
9/14
@
Americus-Sumter
9/27
-
Hardaway
10/5
@
Westover
10/11
-
Columbus
10/18
@
Carver, Columbus
10/26
-
Cairo
11/2
@
LaGrange
Players To Watch
QB
ATH
OT
Wason Davis, Jr.
Andrew Lacy
MJ Cooks
108 | itgnext.com
2017 Overall Record
2017 Region Record
1-9
0-7
Head Coach: Al Pellegrino
Sometimes coaches have seasons where it seems everything works against them. The Shaw High School Raiders encountered numerous obstacles in the fall of 2017 that led to a 1-9 record. “Last year we never had the same lineup due to team suspensions, injuries, and position changes,” Al Pellegrino, Raiders head football coach, said. Shaw also had a very young team, but sometimes weaknesses can turn into strengths. Pellegrino said his ninth-grade quarterback played nine of their 10 games last season, which means he gained a lot of experience under fire. That will definitely play in the Raiders’ favor this fall. Several underclassmen saw playing time, too. Those players will be back with battle-tested confidence this season. Pellegrino knows his young team hasn’t fully grown up, but his defense should be capable. One challenge out of Pellegrino’s control is the seven teams on the Raiders’ schedule that have new coaches. That means it will take some time to discover their on-field schemes. Look for Shaw to most likely have another character-building season but with some bright spots. The Raiders are accustomed to playing Pellegrino’s game plan after two years, and that stability could make a real difference this fall. Record at School: Years at School: 2
1
9