North Gwinnett Not Rebuilding, Just Reloading

Updated Aug. 17, 2011

Note: This is the first in a series of articles previewing the 2011 season for Suwanee high school football teams.

North Gwinnett lost eight offensive and six defensive starters to graduation, leading Coach Bob Sphire to say the Bulldogs will be "a work in progress that hopefully will develop over time."

But don't expect North's opponents to shed any tears for the team that went unbeaten and in Region 7-AAAAA and ran roughshod over the rest of the region last year.

The Bulldogs, who open with McEachern in the Corky Kell Classic on Saturday, Aug. 20, averaged 35.1 points and 370 yards per game in advancing to the second round of the state playoffs in 2010. Losing 13 starters might mean rebuilding at some schools; at North Gwinnett, it simply means reloading.

For example, while the Bulldogs lose the incredibly versatile quarterback/wide receiver C.J. Uzomah, who signed with Auburn, they will replace him with Scotty Hosch. Uzomah completed 85 of 112 passes for 856 yards and eight touchdowns with only one interception last year. Hosch, a part-time starter, completed 82 of 130 passes for 1,006 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Not much of a drop off there.

Uzomah was also the Bulldogs' rushing leader, averaging 7.12 yards on 80 carries in the spread offense but Jon Jones was right behind him, averaging 6.5 yards on 84 carries.

Donnie Miles didn't get many carries last year, but when he did, he showed he knows what to do with the ball, averaging 6.8 yards on 18 carries. So, the running game should be just fine.

In addition to Uzomah, who recorded 18 receptions for 310 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver, the Bulldogs must replace a couple of top notch receivers in Kitaro Lewis and Connor Jenkins.

The biggest loss was on the offensive line, which was virtually wiped out by graduation. Sphire may be reloading at the skill positions, but he will have to rebuild an entire offensive line if the Bulldogs are to match their offensive production of 2010.

On the defensive side of the ball,  end Justin Alabi is back to terrorize opponents' quarterbacks and anchor what should be a solid unit. Last year, Alabi recorded 14.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, 35 tackles and 25 assists.

Other returning starters on defense include end Jordan Washington, nose guard John Jones, linebacker Carl Rider and cornerback Malcolm Jackson.

With the kind of deph North had last year and the blue chip skilled position players returning, don't bet against the Bulldogs to repeat as 7-AAAAA champions.

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For North Gwinnett's 2011 schedule, click here.