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