The key to Red Bank potentially winning region title No. 21 and ending the season with a trip to Finley Stadium for the Class 4A BlueCross Bowl will begin with a dominant run game.
After a suffocating defense allowed just 20 points over six region wins last fall, veteran coach Ted Gatewood’s 2024 team will hang its hat on an experienced offensive line and one of the area’s most dangerous 1-2 punches out of the backfield.
Despite missing time in five games last season due to injury, senior running back Josiah Featherstone still rushed for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns on 130 carries on the way to earning Region 3-4A running back of the year honors last season. Back to 100 percent health and fresh off a dominant summer in which he earned MVP honors at a Spring Showcase — where he displayed his power, speed and vision, as well as pass catching ability — Featherstone should be on the verge of a monster year.
“I embrace being a leader and giving everything I have for the team,” Featherstone said. “This offseason we connected and became really close as brothers by doing a lot of stuff outside of football. I have had my sights on coming back stronger and better than ever before. We are all focused on the end goal, which is making it to the state championship game.”
