Maroons have lofty goals

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Stability often breeds success, and this season players for the Madisonville-North Hopkins football team will have a luxury many of their predecessors did not enjoy the past decade — a returning head coach.

Coach Will Weaver returns for his second year with one season under his belt. He said he feels the program is in a prime position to win.

“I still don’t understand why anyone would leave this place,” he said. “I’m very happy here. I really feel that we’re sitting on a gold mine.”

With many of the key pieces returning from last year’s squad, which finished 5-5, Weaver and the Maroons have established a series of lofty goals.

Among the team’s goals are to score 40 points a game, have a 100 percent success rate in the red zone and secure at least eight defensive shutouts.

Defensively, instead of forcing his players into certain roles, Weaver said he plans to work with the speed of his personnel and develop schemes that play to their abilities.

“Now, we’re going to be more a 44-look on defense, mostly a cover-three team,” he said. “We will play a little bit of man coverage here and there. With our personnel I feel the 40 look gives us the best chance to be successful.”

Leading the 2008 defensive unit will be senior linebackers Iven Jessup and Jacquez Samuel. Samuel and Jessup finished one-two last season in tackles for the Maroons.

As defensive leaders, Jessup said it’s important the defense sends a message to the North offense.

“We want to set the tone first at the beginning of the game,” he said. “We can give the offense a boost, so they can come out and give us a big play. We just play off each other.”

With a smaller defensive line and increased speed, Samuel said the team will be in better shape to defend the pass.

“(The line,) they got a nice size to them, a lot quicker than last year, so I think we’ll do pretty good getting to the ball,” he said. “It really helps us on the passing game as far as screens. We get the D-line out there to the screens in time before they catch the ball.”

At the cornerback position, J.C. Wade returns to start and transfer Martinez Davis will man the additional corner position. Martinez joins the team from Ft. Campbell, which won the 2007 Class 2A state title.

Also on defense, Rashad Combs returns in the rover position, and Jesse Donahue will assume duty at free safety.

Offensively, the Maroons feel confident with playmakers at each of the skill positions.

Leading the offense will be senior quarterback Matt Levin. Levin returns to the starting position after breaking his ankle in last season’s 52-14 loss to Marshall County.

Weaver said Levin’s ankle has healed and he’s 100 percent, but protecting the pocket is still important.

When Levin’s forced out of the pocket, though, Weaver said his great vision helps the team avoid long down-and-distances.

“He sees the whole field, so when he takes off scrambling, some of his best plays are when he is scrambling because he sees the field so well,” Weaver said.

When asked of his ability to create from a broken play, Levin said he’s not sure if he’ll have that chance this season.

“I don’t expect that many because we have a pretty good line,” he said. “They work hard. They’re probably the hardest working group on the team.”

North returns just one starting offensive lineman in Nick Hanvy, but the Maroons have plenty of players ready to step up and protect Levin. Andrew Daugherty will also start, and Matt Blackwell will play center. Others expected to see time on the O-line include Evan-Taylor Bush, Caleb Joseph and Chris White.

Joining Levin in the backfield will be senior backs Ryan Robinson and Chris Scisney.

“I would put them up against any other backfield,” Weaver said. “They can take any ball to the end zone, they have the capabilities... Both of them will have a chance to go on and play college football.”

The Maroons also have a secret weapon in the backfield this season in freshman Trey Carr.

Weaver has designed five to seven plays for Carr and described him as “one of the most explosive players,” and said Carr went untouched for two touchdowns against Union County in a scrimmage.

As for the passing game, Weaver’s receiving corps includes L.J. Gregory, Carl Hatchett, Joe Kington, Ryan Quinn, Robinson, Scisney and Isiah White.

“We’ve got a big-time arsenal of receivers on offense,” Weaver said.

Levin said he’s confident about whoever he’s directed to throw to.

“They’re all great receivers,” he said. “I could throw a 2-yard screen and they’ll catch it and take it 60 yards for a touchdown, so it makes my job pretty easy.”

Gregory, a senior, said with the offense’s goal it’s imperative to come out and score early to help the team’s defense stay off the field.

“It’s very important,” Gregory said. “We expect 40 points a game and coach isn’t going to settle for anything less, so 40 points is a minimum.”

Although the Maroons plan to score as many points via touchdowns as possible, kicker Rush Dugger will provide a secure back-up plan. Dugger, who also plays for the school’s soccer team, boasts a strong leg.

Accuracy may be Dugger’s only area to improve as he connected on field-goal attempts from as much as 57 yards out during the team’s practice Friday.

With so many players integral to the system, Weaver opted to name captains week-to-week rather than for the entire season.

Leading the Maroons into today’s season-opening battle as captains will be Gregory, Levin, Jessup and Samuel.

As for Gregory, it’s easy to understand why Weaver named him a captain when he describes the team’s goal.

“We’ve been preparing pretty hard,” Gregory said. “Everybody’s got state championship on their mind, and I don’t think too many people are going to settle for anything less.”

North will begins its quest to state in the second game of today’s Browning Bowl against Caldwell County.