6B — The Newnan Times-Herald | Wednesday, August 21, 2013
FOOTBALL 2013/NORTHGATE
NORTHGATE VIKINGS
Region 4-AAAAA Head coach Tommy Walburn
A call for all hands on deck Vikings healthy again after rougher seas in 2012 season
2013 Northgate Vikings at a glance Head Coach: Tommy Walburn (Fourth season, 20-12; Overall: 83-52) Coaching Staff: Bubba Jeter (defensive coordinator), Kesley Dalrymple (offensive coordinator, running backs), Adrian Anderson (defensive backs), Lee Golden (linebackers), Justin Crews (quarterbacks, special teams), Marcellous Johnson (linebackers), Derek Rials (receivers, tight ends). 2012 Record: 5-6 Recent History: 2011 (11-1); 2010 (5-5); 2009 (3-7) Offensive Formation: Wing-T Defensive Formation: 8-man Colors: Crimson, White and Black Stadium: Henry Seldon Field Strengths: Skill positions both among returners and new faces. There’s a battle for the starting quarterback position between Valdosta transfer Bo Zachary and Tyler Rowland, last season’s backup. Both should benefit from the return of T.J. Womack and Benton Washington in a backfield that should be well stocked. Torres Johnson and Ryan Fagerstrom are returners that should help anchor the defense. Special teams should also get a boost from the return of kicker Jamie Skalski. What the team may lack in size on the line, the Vikings have in depth. Area of Concerns: It will be tough to replace two key cogs on the defensive line. End Sean Spencer was a four-year contributor and tackle DeAndre “Moose” Johnson are now both at Division I schools. A corps of defensive backs ahs also been depleted between the loss of Brandon Facyson, Andrew Brady and Aaron Stargell. OUTLOOK: Last year’s senior class was one of the most talented in the program’s history while seeing four players move on to Division I schools. The first-five games include trips to Griffin and Region 4A-AAAAA favorite Union Grove before opening up the subregion schedule at home against Whitewater. Playoff hopes may depend on what kind of shape the Vikings are in physically by the time they reach their bye week on Oct. 18. Should they be at .500 or better, a chance to return to the state playoffs could be in sight as the schedule wraps up with Starr’s Mill and rival McIntosh.
By DOUG GORMAN dgorman@newnan.com
N
orthgate head coach Tommy Walburn has been around highschool football long enough to know you can't do too much about injuries. Last year’s 5-6 season was as much a product of Murphy’s Law as an 11-1 campaign in 2011 that included a Region 4-AAAAA title had been at the blessing of the football gods without much outside of a bump or bruise the majority of the way. Which is why last year’s 5-6 record wasn’t nearly as disappointing as it looked on paper despite coming off a Region 4-AAAA championship and an 11-1 season in 2011. "This time last year, we were missing six key football players to start the season," Walburn said. "You have to figure, the law of averages say we won't go through that again." Even if the Vikings stay healthy, they still have to replace four Division I signees, including two huge lineman. De'Andre Johnson, who signed with the University of Georgia, and Sean Spencer, who is headed to Navy were the bread and butter for the Vikings’ defense upfront, using their size to intimidate opposing teams. "You don't replace their size," Walburn said. "We still have some guys who have really done a good job stepping in. We've got more depth than we have had since I have been here on our lines.” Brandon Facyson was the Vikings' leading wide receiver with 25 catches and three touchdowns, but was also a force on the defensive side of the ball with 24 tackles chasing down opponents from the secondary. He is expected to get playing time as a true freshman after signing to play at Virginia Tech. Northgate also comes into the season looking to start its third different quarterback in as many seasons after Josh Harrison graduated after starting one season for the Vikings. Harrison is now at Troy after earning an offer to walk
2013 Roster
No. Name 1 Malik Wade 2 Bo Zachary 3 Marquis Jennings 4. Matt Smith 5 Isreal Bolton 6 Patrick Orman 7 Armond Upshaw 8 Wendell Watson 9 Torres Johnson 11 Christian Gaston 12 Bryce Bates 13 Bryce Walburn 14 Tyler Rowland 15 T.J. Womack 16 Jaelin Ware 17 Michael Matthews 18 Christian Campbell 19 Logan Baird 20 Rashad Menefee 21 Kevin Teasley 22 Jie Smith 23 Clayton Francisco
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
Northgate hopes to avoid some ofthe injuries that plagued the team at the start of the 2012 season this fall. The Vikings will also have to replace four seniors that moved on to Division I programs .
on with the program. Harrison's graduation has forced a quarterback battle between juniors Bo Zachary and Tyler Rowland. Zachary transferred into Northgate from Valdosta in time to go through spring drills. Among the offensive linemen, Aaron Carr is back for his senior year. Sophomore Michael Blankenship is also looking for playing time. Blankenship broke his leg during a football conditioning drill in the offseason, but is getting back close to being healthy. Walburn has also been impressed with senior offensive lineman Jake Humphries, who has been part of the Vikings' program since his
Pos. Yr. RB Jr. QB Jr. TE Sr. DB Sr. WR Sr. DB Jr. DB Sr OLB Jr. DB Sr. WR Sr. QB So. WR Jr. QB Jr. RB Sr. WR Sr. DB Jr. OLB Jr. DB So. DE Sr. RB Jr. WR So. OLB So.
sophomore year. Current sophomore Sean McCool is expected to play center. "We are not opposed to playing a lot of kids. We just haven't had any depth on the line since I have been here,” Walburn said. Walburn expects Dylan Huffman to get back into the game as one of the offensive linemen after suffering a brief illness that forced him to lose weight. Malyk Hibbert is back after starting a couple of games on the line last year. Dakota Wolfe is back at strongside tackle with Drew Latham, Dominic Henry also expected to play. The tight end spot is a major component to the Vikings'
No. Name 24 Chase Dees 25 Brody Lloyd 26 Austin Burgess 27 Carson Storey 28 Percy Green 29 Matthew Lewis 30 Ton Evans 31 Kamari Ray 32 David Noe 33 Hunter Lambert 34 Brennan Wilcox 35 Walker Peace 36 Camron Walker 37 Jon Sapia 38 Anthony Dickerson 39 Cody Carlock 40 Kyle Feldbauer 41 Benton Washington 42 Hunter Eskew 44 Cody Kellogg 45 Ryan Fagerstrom 46 Chase West
Pos. RB DB DB QB WR DB RB DB K DB LB DE DE DB DE OLB TE RB OLB DL TE OLB
Yr. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sph Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So. So. Jr. So. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr.
Wing-T, with Kyler Feldbauer leading the way. "He reminds us a lot of[former Viking] Mitch Bemister. He is sort of cut out of that mold," Walburn said Ryan Fagerstrom, and Trent Brown can also catch the ball from the tight end spot. Because the team was hit hard by injuries last year, T.J. Womack shifted from playing on the offensive line to fullback by week two against Griffin. It turned out to be a good fit for the Vikings as he rushed for 825 yards and four touchdowns. "He was a converted guard last season, but he has really had a great offseason. He has really grown and matured. He is really fun to coach,” Walburn said. “He has done a fantastic job.”
No. Name 47 James Skalski 49 Colt Dooley 50 Drew Latham 51 Jackson Dorman 52 Caleb Blankenship 53 John Proctor 54 Alex Norton 55 Dominic Henry 56 Dylan Huffman 57 Brett Ellis 58 Jake Humphries 59 Dylan Johnson 60 Jasjit Gandhi 61 Jared Monk 62 Jacob Wolf 63 Malyk Hibbert 64 Aaron Carr 65 Austin Smith 66 Nick Moen 67 Colin Clayton 68 Austin Black
2013 SCHEDULE Aug. 30 HeritageConyers Sept. 6 At Griffin Sept. 13 North Clayton Sept. 20 Ola^ Sept. 27 At Union Grove Oct. 4 At Whitewater* Oct. 11 At Creekside* Oct. 25 Starr’s Mill* Nov. 1 At McIntosh* Nov. 8 Region Play-In Game *Region 4B-AAAAA Game ^ Homecoming Marquis Jennings can also play fullback. A year ago, he rushed for 73 yards. Halfback Benton Washington made the most of a shortened season, rushing for 525 yards and six touchdowns in the final five games after suffering a broken arm. With Washington healthy heading into his senior year, he is again expected to be one of the
Pos. LB RB OL LB OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL
Yr. So. So. So. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. So. Jr.
Vikings' go-to-guys. "He came back in a big way," Walburn said. Walburn isn't a big believer in playing freshmen, but Ton Evans might play his way into the Vikings' lineup at running back and special teams. Evans enjoyed a standout career at the middle school level for Madras and is making the transition this year. Wingback Kevin Teasley also battled injuries last year, but started some in the backfield for the Vikings including the game against Griffin. "He has done a great job in the weight room and gotten bigger and stronger," Walburn said. Austin Burgess and Torres Johnson are also in the mix in the Vikings' backfield. Walburn admits there is healthy competition between Zachary and Rowland at quarterback. Zachary played in a different offensive system at Valdosta but is doing a good job adjusting to the Vikings playbook.
See VIKINGS, Page 9B
No. Name 69 Nick Abbadangelo 71 Evan Morrison 72 Dakota Wolfe 73 Justin King 74 Josh Blume 75 Nick Heavner 76 Sean McCool 77 Zach Lyle 78 Jakob Asala 79 Mason Wolfe 80 Eddie McElwaney 82 Trent Brown 83 Ian Milewski 84 Justin Laycox 85 Jordan Gunn 86 Destin Holmes 90 Nebiyou Maddox 93 Victor Taggart 94 Chris Age 97 Jaylen Buckhanna
Pos. DL OL DL OL DL DL DL DL OL OL DL DL WR WR WR WR DL DE DE DL
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Yr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. So. So. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. So.