North will be led by a new coach and a new quarterback this season |
Kelley Sayahnejad takes the reins of the North football program.
Coach: Kelley Sayahnejad (first season)
2009 Recap: 2-7 (1-6), missed playoffs
Returning Starters: Offense 3 , Defense 4
GWAL PREDICTION BLOG
2010 Outlook:
Offense:
The North offense will have a different look in Kelley Sayahnejad's first season as a head coach. North's only two first-team all-league selections graduated as did starting quarterback Grail Brewster. Jeremy Love will step in to replace the dual-threat quarterback.
The running game should be solid with DeAntae Daniels and Thomas Rollins in the backfield for their senior seasons.
Holes in the line to run through will be more difficult to come by this season as Dominic Farinas graduated. Kevin Price and Jose Chavarial do return to provide stability on the line.
Daryl Hinojos will be a player to watch in the receiving game at tight end.
Last season, North had no trouble scoring points as it averaged 20.3-points-per-game. Those numbers will be a bit more difficult to obtain as the Redskins do not return any player that attempted a pass last season or had 100 yards receiving or rushing.
Defense:
The offense was humming last year as it put up 20.3-points-per-game, but the defense did not do its part as it gave up 38.2-points-per-game.
Some playmakers do return on the defensive side of the ball. Aubreon Davis will be a key at linebacker. He was second on the team last year with 58 tackles. Nathan Garner and Yusif Hayes also return to give North a formidable linebacking corp.
Price also returns to play on the line. Once again the loss of Farinas will be felt as his 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound frame was something to be reckoned with last season.
The secondary looks to be lean with no returning starters. Chaz Mack will be the leader at defensive back as North will run a 4-2-5 defense.
Odds and Ends:
North will once again play Campus, Northwest and South in its district schedule. Three of North's six wins in the last three seasons have come at the expense of Campus. Sayahnejad enters his first season at North and is trying to turn around the recent struggles the program has experienced.
"Our staff will be focused on accountability, commitment and trust," Sayahnejad said. "This will allow us to teach more than just football."
North opens the season against East on Sept. 3 at Northwest.
