High school football preview: Nation Ford Falcons

Basics

Coach: Michael Allen, fifth year

Career record: 22-25

Last year: 2-9, 0-6 in Region 3-4A

Assistant coaches: Paul Richardson, offensive coordinator/offensive line; Kirkley Russell, defensive coordinator/linebackers; Zac Lendyak, quarterbacks/wide receivers; Michael Tew, defensive backs; Wayne Richardson, defensive line; Jamel Foster, running backs/defensive backs; Cory Johnson, wide receivers; Dewayne McClain, offensive line; Taylor Irvin, defensive line.

Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense

Twitter account: @nafoathletics

Key players: Soph. LB Vinny Catan, Jr. WR/S Alex Stennett, Sr. WR/DE/LB Jordan Helms, Sr. WR/LB Hank Tuipulotu, Soph. WR/S Ben Tuipulotu, Sr. QB Cole Martin, Sr. OL Jonathan Scott, Sr. OL Chandler Smith, Sr. WR Josh Shade, Sr. DL Charles Newton, Jr. LB Corbin Tesimale, Sr. RB Tyree Chaplin, Jr. OL Tyric Walker

Nation Ford’s 2-9 record last fall had a noticeable impact on its offseason work.

“We’ve driven that home all offseason, what it feels like to be 2-9,” said coach Michael Allen. “This crowd has adopted a whole different attitude regarding the reflection that has on our program, and they’re not happy with that. I think going 2-9 was a great motivating factor for our offseason.”

There is cause to believe the Falcons can turn it around quickly. Allen returns most of the skill position players in one of the most explosive offenses in the state, including quarterback Cole Martin and receivers Hank Tuipulotu (BYU commit), Jordan Helms and Josh Shade. While Tuipulotu led the state in catches last season with 105 (for 1,322 yards and 17 touchdowns), it’d be a mistake for defenses to solely focus on him.

“We’re extremely diverse. We’re very skilled at all of those positions,” Allen said. “And they’ve been playing together for a long time. They understand the system, they understand the checks, they understand when to break a route off. We’re gonna be leaning on that experience.”

The key to a Nation Ford turnaround will be defensive improvement. Most of the team’s top tacklers were underclassmen, but Allen saw an increase in intensity during the spring, thanks in no small part to the 2-9 humbling.

“Obviously we’ve got the offensive people back and we’re trying to improve them, but defensively is where our main focus is,” he said. “We’ve got a lot more energy and I think we’re a little bit faster. I think those two things and of course coupled with attitude, is the most critical part of our defense.

“We feel like we improved across the board.”

Schedule

Aug. 21 South Pointe

Aug. 28 Boiling Springs

Sept. 4 Lugoff-Elgin

Sept. 11 at Greenville

Sept. 18 at Ridge View

Sept. 25 at Gaffney*

Oct. 2 Open

Oct. 9 at Fort Mill*

Oct. 16 York*

Oct. 23 at Northwestern*

Oct. 30 Clover*

Nov. 6 Rock Hill*

*Region 3-4A game

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:38 AM with the headline "High school football preview: Nation Ford Falcons."