A slight rebuild for the Warriors took place last season, as Chad Bennett got White County 4 wins and so close to the postseason despite a very young roster. The 2022 season featured a bump in offensive output (28.5) from the year prior, which is no surprise with Bennett’s track record on that side of the ball. The defense improved a bit too, but both are sure to continue to get better as we enter 2023. That’s completely conceivable since both sides of the ball return 7 starters.

Head Coach: Chad Bennett, 2nd season
2022 Record: 4-6; No Playoffs

“Our guys have worked extremely hard this offseason and are excited for some Friday Night Lights,” says Bennett. “I expect our guys to show up every Friday night and compete. The goal each week will be to find a way to go 1-0!”

2023 SCHEDULE – WHITE COUNTY

AUG 18 @ NORTH HALL

AUG 25 vs HABERSHAM CENTRAL

SEP 1 @ CHESTATEE

SEP 8 BYE

SEP 15 vs STEPHENS COUNTY

SEP 22 BYE

SEP 29 @ DAWSON COUNTY^

OCT 6 @ WESLEYAN^

OCT 13 vs WEST HALL^

OCT 20 @ LUMPKIN COUNTY^

OCT 27 vs PICKENS^

NOV 3 vs GILMER COUNTY^

^REGION 7-AAA GAME

Personnel & Schemes

Key Departures: JD Trowell, Trenton O’Kelly, Jacob Holbrook, Devin Norton

The Warriors’ defense will indeed miss Holbrook (107 TKL) at linebacker, Norton at DE (68 TKL), Trenton O’Kelly on the line (72 TKL), as well as JD Trowell on the line. Those are 4 huge players to replace.

Returning Starters: 7 on offense; 7 on defense

Key Returning Players: Tripp Nix, Ryan Fowler, Cam Wilson, Von Dre’ Nelson, Caysen Duvall, Noah Williams, Cade Dockery, Jon Scott, Carson Smith

Everything starts with the skill positions here. Nix is a 3rd-year starter now, and still just a junior. He has weapons all over, with Fowler, Wilson, Duvall, and Nelson providing so much speed! Williams and Dockery will lead the defense.

Up & Coming Players: Gaines Clark (FR WR/DB), John Phillips (JR WR), Matt Turner (SO TE/DL), Jon Scott (JR LB), Jason Rewis (JR LB), Alex Johnson (JR LB)

Scott, Rewis, and Johnson will all be new LBs to look out for!

Offense: Spread

The Warriors will utilize 10, 11, and 12 personnel this year. Star QB Nix will have a big year, with Fowler being the go-to back. Wilson and Nelson will both get the top targets, and Duvall will be ALL OVER the field making plays. Few teams have this kind of arsenal.

Defense: Base 3-4

Juniors Williams, (DL), Dockery (DB/LB), and Scott (LB) will be aided by SR LB Carson Smith. This unit has a lot to prove and will be ready for that challenge.

Trenches: “The offensive line will be replacing 3 starters from last season,” adds Bennett. “The following players will make up this year’s offensive line: JR Tyler Autry, SR Breydan Ivester, SR Jarrett Ellis, SR Landon Bulgin, SR Christian Welch, JR Tyler Seymour, and SO Austin Garrett.”

“The defensive line is having to replace 3 seniors that played a lot of football for us this past season,” he adds. “The defensive line will be led by 2-year starter Noah Williams who will be returning for his junior season. Other players that should see lots of playing time are JR Dade Anderson, JR Jeremiah Jarrard, SO Matt Turner, JR Gunner Young, SO Noel Lammers, and JR J.J. Deck.”

Strengths & Areas of Focus

Strengths: “This year’s strength will be our skill players,” exclaims Bennett. “We have a bunch of guys that can run really fast.”

Focusing On: “We have spent the offseason getting bigger, faster, and stronger,” says Bennett. “We have also worked on becoming mentally tougher. The guys have done an unbelievable job this offseason! On the field, our offensive linemen have worked really hard having to replace 3 starters that graduated. Defensively, we have focused on getting better in the secondary and becoming better tacklers.”

---

---

---

---