‘We’ve gained something from every season.’ Northwestern football optimistic for 2020
Gregory Johnson III and Derrick “Deuce” McCrorey have seen a lot.
The senior linebackers, who were two of the team’s three leading tacklers in 2019, have been at Northwestern for a winning season, two losing seasons and three varsity head coaches. They’ve also, this summer, been at the Rock Hill school during a pandemic — a reality that forced their spring practices to take place over Zoom video calls and most of their summer workouts to happen without equipment.
But when asked about their high school careers on a muggy morning after a summer workout last week, the team leaders didn’t dwell on what they’ve seen.
Instead, they talked about what they’ve learned.
“I think about how much experience we have,” McCrorey told The Herald, out of breath after running sprints a few minutes earlier. “Even though we’ve had so many changes since we’ve been here, we’ve gained something from every season.”
Last season was a particularly jarring one for the Northwestern football program. The Trojans went 2-8 overall and missed the playoffs for the first time in over 15 years, per MaxPreps.
In June 2019, they welcomed in their third coach in as many years, Page Wofford, who inherited one of the toughest non-region schedules in South Carolina — one that included five preseason top-10 teams in 5A or 4A: Byrnes, Dorman, Ridge View, Sumter and eventual four-time reigning 5A state champion Dutch Fork. (After going 1-5 in non-region play, Northwestern went 1-3 in region. All of its region losses were decided by seven points or less.)
Johnson, the 5-11, 205-pound linebacker who committed to play football at West Point earlier this summer, told The Herald that last year happened for a reason — and that the team is confident heading into 2020.
“At Northwestern, we have a ton of talent,” he said. “Really last year, we were just developing our talent, developing our team. It was a year that we really got to know what type of players we are, and now we know who we have on our team.”
Wofford embarks on Year 2
Like his players, Coach Wofford is optimistic heading into his second year as head coach.
This summer, over 100 players on average have attended summer workouts daily (grades 10-12), an uptick from the year before, and morale is high, Wofford said.
“We have a lot of returning guys from a team that was put in a hard spot,” Wofford told The Herald. “I think they’ve taken that idea and kinda said, ‘Hey, we’re going to fix that.’ That’s been good to see too: the dedication and the thought process of the kids and attitude of the kids to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to be better this year. We’re going to be better with the same players.’”
Wofford will have to find some replacements after a few key departures last year. Ger-Cari Caldwell, the team’s leading receiver in 2019 who eventually signed to play football at the University of South Carolina, graduated, and the defensive line will have to replenish itself after the exodus of a lot of Trojan graduates, including Zawon Brown and brothers Jaden and Julian Campbell.
That said, Northwestern is returning a lot of talent too, including four offensive lineman with starting experience, Wofford said.
“Once again, with a year and more time to evaluate and see guys and watch them move, and to have a whole summer to do that, we’ve been able to put guys in place where we think they’re going to help us,” Wofford said.
Northwestern football is also returning a group of core coaches and has added new ones, including offensive line coach Leon Boulware, who’ll also coach wrestling, and strength coach Donny Bigham.
And all the coaches are having an early, substantial impact, Wofford said.
“(COVID-19) has put us coaches with smaller groups,” he said. “You’re getting to know every player, getting to know more about them normally. Instead of having 100 kids in one day, we’re splitting that number up over three or four hours, and it’s really created a situation where our relationships with the players can flourish and the trust is there.”
Northwestern 2020 schedule
Northwestern is competing in Region 4-5A.
Sept. 25: Ridge View (away)
Oct. 2: Blythewood (away)
Oct. 9: Spring Valley (home)
Oct. 16: South Pointe (away)
Oct. 23: Rock Hill (home)
Oct. 30: Nation Ford (away)
Nov. 5: River Bluff (home)
Editor’s note: This story is one of 15 high school football previews The Herald will run prior to the first game of the regular season on Sept. 25. Look out for a preview of Rock Hill football to appear at heraldonline.com later this week.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 8:04 AM.
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