West Forsyth High School 2012 Football Preview

--By Staff Writer on --

COACH: Frank Hepler
REGION: 6-AAAAAA
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 11-2; Ranked 7th in state
STARTERS RETURNING (OFFENSE) 7
STARTERS RETURING (DEFENSE)8

In just the fifth season of their existence as a football program, the Wolverines finished 2011 with an 11-2 record, a couple of playoff wins, ranked second in their region and 7th in Georgia’s rugged AAAAA classification.

Now that the Wolverines have climbed to the upper echelon of Georgia’s high stay there?

With seven starters back on offense, eight on defense and a host of players who were good enough to make the All-Region team last year, chances are the Wolverines will be even better this season.

Quarterback A.J. Erdely (6-3, 205) will be back to call the signals. That’s a pretty good start considering he passed for over 1,800 yards last year, ran for another 415 and scored 17 touchdowns.

It that’s not enough to spark the offense, Erdely will have one of the league’s best runners to hand the ball to in Jake Wieczorek (6′, 190). Wieczorek is one of the All Region players returning. He accounted for more than 1,600 all-purpose yards and scored 17 touchdowns last year. Another returning starter, wide receiver Tanner Robinson (5’11, 185) should be the go-to receiver when the Wolverines decide to air it out.

That group will operate behind a solid front wall of returning starters, including tackles Jayce Ratliff (6-4, 298) and Zach Bradbury (6’4, 290) guard Will Bass (6’1, 255), center Andrew Marshall (6’4, 255) and tight end Ty Anderson, 6’4, 220).

Anderson, Marshall, Wieczorek and Camara were all First-Team All-Region players last year.

On defense, five of the front seven return, including defensive ends Josh Davis (6’2, 260 and Brett Anderson (6′, 255) linebackers, Conner Vandenbos (6′, 210) , Josh Salo (5’11, 205) and Mohamed Camara (6/2, 205). Vanderbos is a ball hawk who recorded more than 100 tackles in 2011. The secondary will have three of its top defenders back in cornerback Jacob Hill (5’10, 170) and safeties Hunter Belue (6’1, 175) and Josh Gordon (5’11, 180). Camara was a First-Team All-Region player.

Head Coach Frank Hepler likes what he saw in the spring, but says all of his returning starters will have to perform at the same high level or higher for the Wolverines to continue to rank among the state’s elite teams.

“I’m looking forward to a good year,” Hepler said. “We play a very tough schedule in a very competitive region that has a lot of good players and some excellent coaches.”