Andy Whisenant is looking for the Bruins to improve on last year's 6-4 mark.

Northwest Whitfield Bruins

Coach: Josh Robinson (6-4 in one year here and overall)

Last year: 6-4, 3-2 in 7B-AAAA

'13 dreams: The Bruins are still haunted by the way last season ended. The three-overtime loss to Gilmer County in the region playoff play-in round is a motivating factor for a team with several key holes to fill. The spread offense will include a new quarterback, Caleb Shiflett, and new starting receivers Andy Whisenant and Tevin McDaniel, so early chemistry in that group will be key. The strength of the team lies in its defensive front, where reigning region player of the year Isaiah Mack is back and ready to be a disrupting force all over the field. However, four new starters will man the secondary, and while that may not hurt the Bruins in the run-heavy subregion, it could show in the playoffs.

13-for-13 contenders: While Mack is clearly the team's most talented player, Whisenant may be its most indispensable. He will start both ways and will serve as Shiflett's backup. According to Mack, defensive end Caleb Bowie, who missed a good part of last year due to injury, will be an all-star this year.

Number of interest: 0 - home playoff wins in program history. The Bruins are 0-3 in the modern format but did earn a postseason win at home in 1978 with a region playoff semifinal defeat of LaFayette.

13 years ago: Northwest earned its only region championship in 2000, winning nine regular-season games under Ron Wheeler.

Program superstition: The Bruins, like most teams, have certain pregame routines, but Coach Robinson admits he's the poster boy for superstition. From wearing the same clothes to entering the field a certain way, the third-year head coach, as profiled elsewhere in this special section, is one superstitious guy.

1-through-3: Senior receiver/defensive back Andy Whisenant

Q. What are your expectations for this season?

A. I think we'll have a good team this year, but we have to bring our "A" game each week. We can't look back this year and have any regrets about how hard we worked in the offseason, and I don't think we will.

Q. What do you see as the biggest difference in this team from last year?

A. I think the team chemistry is better, not that we didn't get along well last year. It's just different. We don't have seniors that just hang around with seniors and juniors that are just friends with juniors. We all like to hang out together. I think that will be a big factor for us.

Q. What's the best thing about playing football at Tunnel Hill?

A. I love the atmosphere here. We have a huge fan base that always comes out and supports us. Under the lights in Tunnel Hill ... there's no better place.

2013 Schedule

Aug. 30 Pepperell

Sep. 13 Pickens County

Sep. 20 at Cass

Sep. 27 River Ridge

Oct. 4 at Heritage*

Oct. 11 Dalton*

Oct. 18 at Ridgeland*

Oct. 25 at Southeast Whitfield*

Nov. 1 LaFayette*

Nov. 8 Region play-in

*Region 7B-AAAA game

2012 Stats

Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards Tds

Silas Ledford 158-271-9 58.3% 2,370 22

Rushing Att. Yards Tds

Chris Tinson 131 771 9

Clay Phillips 64 194 3

O'Shea Hill 28 116 2

Receiving No. Yards TDs

O'Shea Hill 56 831 10

A.J. Orozco 29 463 5

Andy Whisenant 23 277 2

Roster

2 Andy Whisenant Senior

3 Clay Phillips Junior

4 Tevin McDaniel Senior

5 Will Brock Junior

6 Kyle Fleming Sophomore

7 Caleb Bowie Senior

8 Tyler Clayton Senior

9 Isaiah Mack Senior

10 Dylan Joyce Senior

11 Seth Hutchinson Sophomore

12 Walker Creswell Junior

13 Caleb Shiflett Junior

14 Hank Miller Junior

15 Cameron Heard Sophomore

16 Austin Morrison Sophomore

17 Elijah Blackwell Sophomore

18 David Doughne Junior

19 Connor Beard Junior

20 Miguel Villa Senior

22 Alejandro Cornell Sophomore

26 Jamon Horne Junior

27 Raekwon Watson Junior

28 Cyrus Addison Sophomore

30 Gabe Suttles Sophomore

31 Kevin Centeno Junior

32 Bryan Villa Junior

34 Kobe Hull Sophomore

35 Blake Ownbey Junior

37 Erich Stark Junior

38 Dustin Kyker Sophomore

40 Chris Schienert Sophomore

41 Aaron Scott Sophomore

42 Colten Leonard Junior

44 Jacob Webb Senior

45 Dexter Stamper Junior

50 Noah Smith Junior

51 Trey Mantooth Sophomore

52 Blake Frankenberger Senior

53 Trey Hasty Junior

54 Cameron Atkins Senior

55 Rashun Mack Sophomore

56 Ross Chadwick Senior

57 Cesar Orajel Junior

59 Hunter Burnette Senior

60 Isais Forcado Sophomore

61 C.J. Tucker Sophomore

64 Rodrigo Martinez Senior

66 Rhett Stanley Sophomore

67 Aaron Buckner Sophomore

68 Ryan Rhudy Junior

69 David Wagner Senior

70 Tucker Pittman Sophomore

71 Noah Cox Sophomore

72 Jordan Lopez Junior

73 Bryson Williams Senior

74 Colin Blankenship Junior

82 David Dickie Sophomore

83 Anthony Rittenhouse Sophomore

85 Justin Palmer Junior

87 Adam Scott Sophomore

88 Mason Shepard Sophomore