Offseason changes benefit Tigers, Warriors

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 12, 2013 1:48 PM

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WINSTON-SALEM -- A season-ending loss to eventual 2012 state champion Southwest Onslow showed James Kenan it needed to create a passing game.

West Montgomery quarterback Caleb Drake and third-year head coach Nick Eddins met in the offseason to discuss offensive strategy. Drake realized that he didn't need to win a ballgame by himself.

One year later, each team finds itself in position to emerge as the 2013 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-AA state football champion. No. 1-ranked and unbeaten James Kenan (14-0) and No. 3-ranked West Montgomery (14-1) meet Saturday at 3:05 p.m. at BB&T Field.

The Tigers seek their third state title in program history. The Warriors are 0-2 in their previous trips to the finals in 1975 and 2007.

"James Kenan is a great football team and they've got (athletic) players everywhere," Eddins said. "I think our players are confident in their abilities and the coaching staff, and the execution of all things. Either way it goes, I know it's going to be a good football game."

West Montgomery finished 7-6 last season.

The Warriors had just eight seniors and struggled with execution on either side of the ball. Close games became heart-breaking losses, which challenged the coaching staff to build the team's confidence in the offseason.

Eddins started with Drake.

Teams focused on taking the quarterback either out of the equation or limiting his opportunities a year ago. Drake became a student of the game and has been a viable threat in the Warriors' spread option attack this fall.

The 6-foot-1 senior has thrown for 1,800-plus yards and 18 touchdowns, and rushed for another 1,600-plus yards and 28 scores. The 170-pounder reminds James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. of Princeton phenom Johnny Frasier, who caused his defense headaches twice this season.

"He's going to get his (yards) and you can tell he's going to make some plays," Avent Jr. said. "We're going to have to find a way to limit those and do something on offense to keep them off the field. It's going to be a challenge for our defense."

Senior Suave Pegues has rushed for 1,963 yards and 24 touchdowns this season. West averages 48.1 points a game.

Kenan's defense surrenders 10.8 points an outing. Juan Hooper and Kevon Miller spearhead a unit that's forced 32 turnovers, and logged four shutouts this season.

Offensively, the Tigers will counter with 1,000-yard rusher Marcelias Sutton and 1,000-yard passer Dominique Barnes, whose improvement has opened up the offense this season. Al Owens has contributed 936 yards and 12 TDs.

"They run the option like we do, just a little different style which makes it tough," Eddins said. "We've got to be in position, play our assignments like we're supposed to ... gang tackle. We've got to get those athletes on the ground and get enough people around them so you can get them down ... get 11 hats to the football.

"There are going to be plays made on both sides, no question about that."

Eddins switched to a 3-4 defensive alignment to fit his personnel this season. Linebackers Matt Harkins and Seth Williams are the team's leading tacklers with 138 and 101 stops, respectively. The Warriors have recorded an eye-popping 61 sacks as a team, including 19.5 by AJCollins.

West has coaxed opponents into 36 turnovers this season.