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Published Friday, July 31, 2009 in Sports

Scheduling change has Heritage School opening 2009 football season on Aug. 21

By Chris Goltermann

The Times-Herald

To know just how much further along The Heritage School football team is entering Year Two under Larry Harrison than in his debut, one only needed to see how the head coach reacted to a late scheduling snafu that will have the Hawks opening its 2009 season one week earlier than expected on Aug. 21.

For Heritage, one man's umbrella is another man's rainbow.

"It's no big deal for us," said Harrison during Thursday's workout in helmets and shorts. "Actually it probably works out to our advantage."

Still, when Forsyth private school Monroe Academy closed its doors for good last Tuesday due to declining enrollment, it left a hole in Heritage's football schedule on Sept. 11. With at least four other GISA schools opting to halt football programs, it also didn't provide many options in hopes of reclaiming a 10th game on the schedule.

But after a phone call or two, Heritage found a suitor in Pickens Academy from Carrollton, Ala., who will travel to Newnan for a 7:30 p.m., kickoff on Aug. 21 that now acts as the Hawks 2009 season opener. The two teams will split the gate receipts.

"It was hard because everybody else got on the phone," said Harrison. "I thought we were going to have a meeting to decide it. There were several people that I could have gotten if I had been on time. It just so happened this Alabama team was looking and it was a good date for us."

The swap now gives the Hawks, who are coming off a 6-5 record in 2008 during a state-playoff season, a bye week on Sept. 11, allowing the team to prepare for a stretch of four home games in a span of five weeks. It also allows Heritage to have a game on its previous opening opponent, Strong Rock, on Aug. 28. Strong Rock also opens its season on Aug. 21.

"This way, we'll both have played a game," said Harrison. "It's not going to hurt us."

Even with a week less to prepare, Heritage expects to be right on pace to start its second season under Harrison's double-wing offense and it's first under a new 4-4 defensive scheme. It replaces a 4-6 Bear that he had used for several years dating back to his previous successes at Nathaniel Greene Academy that included a trip to a GISA state championship game in 2004.

"We're scrapping it. I had really fell in love with that defense the past few years," said Harrison. "I got tired of giving up 40 points a game. I think this (4-4 defense) suits our style more."

Linebacker Stuart Bready and safety John Veal, both juniors, will be among a good group of returners. On offense, the Hawks lost two talented tailbacks, Christopher Rich and Brent Veal, who accounted for nearly 30 touchdowns, the latter finishing with 1,477 yards to carry the majority of the load after a knee injury to Rich. But Heritage has five of its top seven linemen back including senior Mills Adams.

John Veal, however, will move from his starting quarterback role to fill his brother's vacancy in the backfield, opening up an opportunity for freshman Joe Bonner to start behind center.

"Our offense is not that complicated that he couldn't step in and do it," said Harrison of Bonner, who is one an influx of eight freshmen from an unbeaten middle school team last fall. "I've got full confidence in him."

Freshman Candler Rich and newcomer Brendan Riley, a junior, will also step into the lineup at wingback.

Heritage, which has been practicing twice a week, will kick into full gear next week with daily workouts on top of summer weight-lifting.

"We had some kids who showed up every day in the weight room, and the ones who did really saw a difference," said Harrison.

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