FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Sequoyah at North Forsyth

Article courtesy of Forsyth County News

When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Raider Valley in Cumming.

Records, rankings: Sequoyah finished 4-6 in 2015 and is unranked in Class 6A; North Forsyth finished 2-8 in 2015 and is unranked in Class 7A.

Series history: Series tied 2-2

Last meeting: Sequoyah won 14-0 in 2003

What to know: Friday will be North Forsyth’s first game of the Robert Craft era. There’s a revitalized sense of excitement in Coal Mountain with Craft’s up-tempo, spread offense replacing the run-heavy attack of the past. North didn’t disappoint in its test run last week, winning 31-27 in its scrimmage at Gainesville. This will also be the first start for junior quarterback Ben Bales, who will lead an offense that has just two seniors in the fold.

Sequoyah will be a team in rebuilding mode under eighth-year head coach James Teter. The Chiefs went from eight wins in 2013 to six in 2014 to just four last season, and they have to replace quarterback Austin Tracy, tailback Trey Mitchell and receiver Derrion Rakestraw. Linebacker McGwire Wells (No. 48), who recorded 91 tackles a season ago, is Sequoyah’s top player to watch.

North’s defense should be familiar with the offense they’ll face. Sequoyah sticks with a run-heavy flexbone offense similar to what the Raiders ran the last few years. North’s defensive talent should be a strength with Griffin Hughes, Michael Bun and Robert Bishop all returning to anchor the defense at all three levels.