Sports
Stephenson Could Be A Top 10 Team in 2011
Jags will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this season, but they are accustomed to winning and see no reason why that should change this year.
Region 2-AAAAA power Stephenson had another great season in 2010, ending the season with a 9-2 record and a trip to the state playoffs. But the Jaguars have only nine starters returning.
So, it was a little surprising to hear Coach Ronald Gartrell say the Jaguars have the potential to be a Top 10 team this year. But, when Gartrell speaks about Stephenson High School football, it's a good idea to pay attention.
This is a school with a very short history -- just 14 years -- but also an incredibly successful one. The Jaguars won region championships in 2001, '02, '03, '05, '06, '08 and '09. Not only has the team been successful, but individual players have also excelled. Former Jaguars DeMario Minter (Cleveland Browns) and Anthony Cannon (Detroit Lions) are currently playing in the NFL and there are 40 others who are on college scholarship, including 10 in Division 1.
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So, this is a team that never rebuilds. It just reloads.
Offensively, the Jaguars have dependable wide receiver DeMarcus Sweatt and three outstanding starting linemen returning in Steve McKenzie, Nicholas Gibbons and Jafar Mann. The latter three will be opening holes for one of the region's best running backs, Mike Davis. All Davis did as a sophomore is rush for 1,151 yards while averaging an eye-popping 9.1 yards per carry. He also found the endzone 10 times in 11 games.
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"Mike had a great season last year," Gartrell said. "He's a special back that we will look to make plays. To have a balanced offensive attack Mike has to handle the ball a lot."
The mystery is, who will start at quarterback. Justin Holman (6'2, 175) and Ali Groves (6'0, 185) took their duel for starting job all the way through this summer and neither emerged as the clear winner. Gartrell isn't saying which one will start the opener against Parkview tonight at 7:30 pm.
The Jaguars will be even more shorthanded on defense where only four starters return, linebacker Darreon Herring, and defensive linemen Mann, Carlos Hood and Jarontay Jones.
At any other school, this kind of rebuilding job would be a major headache. But, hey, this is Stephenson and Gartrell says, "Our expectations are always high and we expect to win."
See predictions for tonight's game here.
