By Thomas Grant Jr.
Spring football concluded in the Northeast last week with intrasquad scrimmages.
Ridge View held its finale a week earlier on the soon-to-be refurbished stadium turf.
It was an opportunity for fans to watch more unfamiliar faces than usual. All-State wide receiver Jordon Gidron is at the University of South Carolina, while other starters like Quency Grant, Khristian Jackson and Jordan Best were involved with helping the boys track and field team win the Class 5A Division I championship on May 24.
Of bigger importance for head coach Derek Howard was observing his team’s level of physicality. When it comes to experience, he sees numerous contributors coming back.
“Any kid that threw a touchdown, ran a touchdown, caught a touchdown and the majority of our defensive backfield, they’re all returning,” Howard said. “All of them. So we really feel really good about that group. We started spring football; it looked like football. It didn’t look like we were a long ways away other than our young kids that were on our ninth grade team which they’ve got a lot of development to go.”
Among the exciting newcomers is rising outside linebacker Alante Morrison, who played on junior varsity last season, and safety Isaiah Kennedy. Rising senior D’juan Franklin is also making the adjustment from inside to outside linebacker.
The offense returns three-year letterman Tre Howard and offensive linemen Jordan Senior and Joshua and Joseph Braveboy. Carrying the football out of the backfield are tailback Spencer Bobian and fullback Aiden Keefe.
For Spring Valley and Westwood, spring football served as a continuation of the implementation of new coaching systems. Viking alumnus Norman Washington looks to get the program off the Palmetto State’s longest losing streak, while Stephen Burris and his experienced staff looks to build upon last year’s success.
(All Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.)
