GAINESVILLE -- Last year there were questions. This year there is simply excitement.<br />
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North Hall football coach Bob Christmas acknowledges there is a buzz around the Trojans for 2013 -- and with 23 returning seniors from 2012's Class AAA semifinalist, why not? But Christmas also cautions that experience is no guarantor of success and that North Hall must maintain its focus.<br />
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"We're real excited about our kids. Last year we had a lot of change and unknowns. This year it's just a matter of tweaking a few things," Christmas said. "There was never any getting bored last year. The challenge this year is to not get complacent. We had a great nucleus of underclassmen on the field last year, and though we lost some good players, we've got that nucleus back."<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/72421337" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/72421337">2013 North Hall Preview</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/wduntv">WDUN TV</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />
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That nucleus includesdepth at just about every position, as well as established standouts that will hope to take North Hall's rejuvenation a step further in 2013. And despite graduating two standout running backs in TJ Tate and Kevin Christmas, the Trojans feel their wishbone attack can be just as potent as 2012, when North Hall rushed for just over 333 yards per game.<br />
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"We lost two 1,000 yards rushers, a good quarterback and a very good center, but we've got six senior running backs coming back this year," Christmas said. "And they're ready to step up and be main people. Up front we're as big as we've ever been, and this is a hard-working group. It's been a fun bunch to coach."<br />
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Despite graduating starter Bradley Brown at quarterback, the explosive Andrew Smith is ready to step in and be the every down signal caller after splitting time with Brown last season, rushing for 605 yards and 10 touchdowns (he also completed seven touchdown passes) in the process. He will be aided by a massive front line that includes returning seniors Thomas Marchman (6-foot-4, 260 pounds), Dylan Truelove (6-3, 260), Russell Gillespie, Justin Bacus, Cole Strickland and Avery Rogers, along with junior Hayden Hughes.<br />
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The unit will clear the way for a deep stable of running backs, including returning fullbacks David Epps (129 yards rushing, 2 TDs in 2012) and Destin Bennett (160 yards, 1 TD), along with halfbacks Zac Little (551 yards, 7 TDs), Brannon Dyer and Isaac Seid -- all seniors. Fellow senior Will Cape will also see action in the backfield<br />
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"We're trying to make them all interchangeable," Christmas said. "People will be prepped for us this year, but we feel like we've got some tremendous potential there."<br />
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The same goes for the Trojans defense, which allowed just over 14 points per game last season and just 8.6 points through three playoff wins. And like the offense, the North Hall defense will be anchored by a strong front line. <br />
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Bacus (285 pounds) and Gillespie (300 pounds) will feature at noseguard, while Marchman, Truelove, Devon Motes and Strickland will rotate at defensive end.<br />
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Little, Hughes, Austin Perry, Dalton Lavender and Nolan Tucker will feature at outside linebacker, while Bennett (119 tackles), Epps, Bobby Mendenhall and Ingram will play inside.<br />
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The secondary is also set with Smith (team-high 138 tackles in 2012) and Cape (123 tackles) at safety and Seid, Dyer Lee Shelton and Stephen Murray also rotating in the backfield.<br />
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"We're so much better than last year there," Christmas said.<br />
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One of the few questions North Hall must answer is in the kicking game, where the reliable leg of Modesto Cruz is no longer available after his graduation. Sophomore Chris Dennis will take over, while Zac Little will punt.<br />
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The Trojans will be challenged from the start, facing old foe Chestatee to open the campaign and two defending state champs in Jefferson and Buford. In between comes a tough Region 7-AAA slate.<br />
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"We do have Buford at the end. They've got a tremendous program, probably as good as anyone in the country. They're loaded, and they do a tremendous job coaching their kids," Christmas said. "We feel like we may have one of our best teams coming up, but they're the ones you've got to beat. We've also got to play Chestatee and Jefferson and a tough region. We're going to have to play every week. We have to take steps to get there and if you take an off week we'll never get there."
