After graduation, Nation Ford restocking on offense

Losing nearly 90 percent of one’s offense is never good, but that is the reality facing the Nation Ford Falcons heading into the 2016 football season – not to mention moving up into a new 5A classification.

No Cole Martin, Hank Tuipulotu, Jordan Helms, or Josh Shade, who accounted for most of fire power for the Falcons. Nation Ford head coach Michael Allen is trying to get back to the basics in the team’s spring practices, which concluded recently.

“We have been focusing on fundamentals and evaluating players,” Allen said. “We are trying to fill gaps, and there is a lot of time working individually. On offense, we are trying to find a guy to fill the void.”

For now, Nation Ford may have a quarterback battle on its hands through the summer between Chris Layle, Kirk Rygol and Carson Carruthers. The past couple of years, Cole and his top-three receivers led one of the region’s top aerial attacks. Allen said he would like to mix things up more this upcoming season instead of looking at a pass-first offense.

“The goal is to get some type of running game established,” he said.

One thing that Nation Ford should have that coaches can’t teach fundamentally is size. Several players standout at spring practice, including rising junior defensive tackle Travell Crosby, who is 6’8” and 315 pounds and is already being looked at by FCS Division I schools.

Offensively, Nation Ford is bringing back receivers Alex Stennett, who should be their No. 1 receiver this upcoming season, and Ben Tuipulotu, who will also be playing free safety as well as catching passes.

Going into its 2016 schedule, Nation Ford opens the season up Aug. 19 at home against Irmo. They then travel to South Pointe Aug. 26 and will get a bye week after just two games on Sept. 2. The Falcons then travel to York in a non-region game this year, due to the fact that York is staying at 4A, before having non-region games at home Sept. 16 against Lancaster and Sept. 23 against Indian Land.

Nation Ford will open up Region IV-5A play at Clover Sept. 30 and will travel to Rock Hill Oct. 7 and then Byrnes Oct. 14, in a non-region match game. They will finish off their 10 game regular season schedule at home against Northwestern Oct. 21 and rivals Fort Mill Oct. 28.

The Falcons again will be participating in the Cam Newton 7-on-7 passing leagues throughout the summer and will host the championship event July 15-16 at Nation Ford High Stadium.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 10:08 AM with the headline "After graduation, Nation Ford restocking on offense."