The Skinny
The West Hall Spartans have qualified for the state playoffs for five consecutive seasons. New Head Coach Krofton Montgomery will look to guide the Spartans to their sixth consecutive playoff appearance this season. But the road to a playoff berth in region 7 becomes a little more difficult, as Flowery Branch now joins a region which already boasts the 2017 state champion (Blessed Trinity) and runner-up (Marist).
Senior, Quenton Smith will lead the West Hall offense. He will have a talented weapon in the backfield alongside him in Junior Michael Thompson. In 2017, Thompson passed for 529 yards and also rushed for 879 yards with 9 TDs. The Spartans were a run oriented offense last season and will no doubt look to capitalize on Thompson’s ability in the ground game.
Solomon Riley looks poised to help carry the load offensively as he joins Smith and Thompson in the backfield. Upfront, senior tackles Ricky Castillo and Matt Sinclair will anchor the offensive line tasked with making holes for the ground game. They will no doubt get help from tight end Hunter Rainey.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans sport two good-sized linebackers in Corey Dupree and John Stoecker. They will look to replace Cory Davis and Austin Sinclair who led the team in tackles last season. The defensive secondary will be anchored by senior corner, Jeremiah Prather.
Coach Montgomery said “(all of the games) are equally important”, but he added, “Johnson in the battle of Oakwood and will always be the number one game in our communities.”
So what would make a successful season for the Spartans?
“Growth day by day as young men, athletes, community members, sons, and overall citizens. If we work hard and follow the plan wins will come, but success is measured in players coming back 4-5 years from now as productive citizens, husbands, and fathers and realizing what football as game does for you in life,” Montgomery said.
We couldn’t agree more.
