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Sports

Football Preview: North Forsyth High School

The Raiders lost 16 starters to graduation after a season in which they advanced to the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

Playing in a very tough Region 6-AAAAA, the North Forsyth Raiders were good enough to make it to the state playoffs last year before losing to Grayson in the first round. But first-year Coach Blair Armstrong will have a lot of rebuilding to do this year.

Graduation took a heavy toll on the Raiders, who lost 16 of 22 starters from last year's team. Armstrong faces a massive makeover on offense where only two starters, senior center Bud Benson (5'10, 200) and tight end Nathan Wilson (6'1, 210), return.

Fortunately, North has an outstanding placekicker returning in senior Cole Allison who will help the Raiders put a lot of points on the scoreboard this season. Allison, who is being recruited by several colleges, connected on 17 PATs and three field goals last year. He also kicked a school record 46-yarder before being injured.

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Defensively, the cupboard isn't completely bare but a lot of new faces will have to step in and contribute if the Raiders are to make it back to the state playoffs.

North will have a pair of experienced linebackers returning in seniors Cody Austin (6'0, 185) and James Hulik (5'10, 175), tackle Logan Stone (5'10, 240) and cornerback Mike Jones (5'9, 160).

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Hulik is a very physical tackler and a team leader and Austin is an aggressive linebacker whose motor is always running. These two will have to carry the defense until some of the younger players can develop into solid, dependable starters.

"We're very young for a AAAAA school," Armstrong said. "We will have to see what develops as the season goes on. We hope to be able to grow up fast. Our biggest need is experience and we'll fill it a little more each week. "

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