GISA Prep Football: Heritage School, Trinity Christian face immediate challenges
By CHRIS GOLTERMANNcgoltermann@newnan.com
The Heritage School football team wants to keep a good thing going in tonight’s season opener. Trinity Christian hopes to create some momentum of its own after leaving behind last year’s struggles.
Either way, both GISA Region 2-AAA rivals expect to face immediate challenges tonight when the Hawks and Lions take the field for the first time this fall.
Heritage School went on to finish 8-3 in its best season in school history. Flint River ended 2011 at 2-8 and went through a change of coaches and offensive philosophies in the offseason while hiring former Eagle’s Landing Christian offensive coordinator Jason Carrera.
Carrera’s no-huddle, spread formation made an immediate impression on Heritage second-year head coach Kevin Prisant, who made the trip to Gatewood for Flint River’s 27-23 victory last week.
“The thing that impressed me most was how much energy they still had in the fourth quarter,” Prisant said. “You could tell he had them going in the offseason.”
The Wildcats ran a whopping 85 plays —nearly all of them in the shotgun — under junior quarterback Seth Short.
“He made good decisions out there,” Prisant said. “They were very efficient in their play calling. (But) I think if we can limit the big play and do what we do best, drive the ball down the field, I like our chances.”
A week off following last week’s scrimmage allowed Heritage School sophomore quarterback Brad Macke a chance to “prepare for a typical game week,” the past four days said Prisant. Macke takes over for senior Joe Bonner, who injured his shoulder early in preseason camp.
“We had guys who could use that break,” said Prisant of early season injuries.
Trinity Christian, meanwhile, takes on a former region foe of its own in John Milledge, which rolled past Brentwood 48-7 in last week’s opener. The Lions fell 35-14 to the Trojans in last year’s Region 2-AAA contest, but return the majority of last year’s starters while also adding talent at key positions during the offseason.
Senior Drew Gibson returns to the football field for the first time since 2010 tonight and the starting fullback/linebacker should add strength to both positions. East Coweta transfers Jay Warner, at tailback, and Edwin Rivera, at linebacker, join returners Conner Adams, Daniel Shoates and Dee Snelling among skill position players.
Both Adams and Shoates are capable of leading the offense or filling in elsewhere, Adams at tight end and Shoates at receiver.
