Last season was an anomaly for North Callaway football.
The Thunderbirds finished 2-8 after having at least seven wins in six of the previous seven seasons. They will be showcasing another …
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Last season was an anomaly for North Callaway football.
The Thunderbirds finished 2-8 after having at least seven wins in six of the previous seven seasons. They will be showcasing another roster full of underclassmen this year.
Head coach Kevin O’Neal said the experienced areas will be the offensive and defensive line but will have to break in kids in many other positions.
“It’s putting them in those adverse situations in practice and teaching them how to respond the positive way,” O’Neal said. “We need the seniors that do have experience to step and lead in a positive way also.”
O’Neal said he expects to have around 40 players this season, including a mix of returners and newcomers to the starting lineup. Even O’Neal’s coaching staff is about evenly split with three returners and two newcomers – the first time O’Neal’s staff has been full of his former players.
Most of North Callaway’s award winners last season graduated, but David Sapp returns for his senior year on the offensive and defensive line. Sapp was an all-conference and all-district offensive lineman for the Thunderbirds and will lead a group that also has Casper Safranski, Jaiden Galbreath, Justice Moore and Ben Haubner on the offensive line and at linebacker. Coltyn O’Neal expects to take over the starting job at quarterback after starting a few games near the end of last year as a freshman, Collin Moore played receiver and defensive back as a freshman, and Carter Moore will be a tight end and defensive back again.
“Our definite strength is going to be on the offensive and defensive line,” O’Neal said. “We have quite a few returners there, and I’m excited for those guys to lead our program. We want to set the tone and be physical up front. With those guys returning, that’s going to help with that mentality.”
Wyatt Haden should have a bigger role in the backfield and secondary in his junior year, and O’Neal said there are some other sophomores he hopes can fill those less experienced areas.
“We’re going to lack some experience at running back and at quarterback,” O’Neal said. “Hopefully, those guys will come along quickly. There is some good competition at those spots right now.”
Along with a new quarterback on the offensive side, O’Neal said there will be a new quarterback on the defensive side. North Callaway will have a new group of linebackers to handle all of the responsibilities that come with the position.
“The linebacker is essentially the quarterback of the defense,” O’Neal said. “Our middle linebacker is the guy that gets the front set and gets everybody where they need to be.”
O’Neal said there were some high points or moments last season where the Thunderbirds were playing well. They just need to sustain whatever success they find this year.
“We just need to improve each week,” O’Neal said. “Last year, it was a little bit of a roller coaster. That happens when you have a lot of younger guys that get playing time and a lot of freshmen on the field.”
