North Crowley were in high hopes heading into the 2016 after their 2015 campaign saw them produce a 3-7 (2-5) record and have a slew of players returning looking to further move up the district standings.
Unfortunately 2016 was far from a banner year as North Crowley took a step backwards and ended up in seventh place with a 1-9 record. So can 2017 lead to a better turn of fortune for North Crowley as they look to right the course of their program?
Key Losses
WR Moses Davis, RB Damion Brown, DL Bryce Peeples, DL Calion Washington
North Crowley will be taking a significant hit along the defensive front and both Davis and Brown brought invaluable experience on the offense as seniors.
Key Returners
QB Caleb Leake, RB Jailen Robinson, WR Julian Jones, LB Jarious Kennedy, DB Michael Minor
The good news is that North Crowley will be returning a good amount of players that have spent two years on the varsity level already. Quarterback Caleb Leake who was only a sophomore last season will be back after throwing for over 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He will have a dangerous targets in running back Jailen Robinson and receiver Julian Jones who both put up respectable numbers in their junior campaigns. Robinson rushed for 343 yards and two touchdowns while Jones caught six touchdowns for 601 yards.
Jarious Kennedy will be heading into his junior year and be even more of a force at the mid-level of the defense. His defensive teammate Michael Minor will be an asset in the secondary as well.
The Verdict
North Crowley, with the athletes they have, as well as the young experience, are more than a one-win team. However, life in District 4-6A is shaping up to be a war zone next year and North Crowley is far from being able to make an impact against the stronger teams in the district. If they can have a strong out-of-district showing and swing some momentum in their favor then they might be able to pull off a district victory as an underdog. North Crowley might be able to flirt with a .500 record but it comes down to how the team can fare when the going gets tough. They should finish with more than one win but they will have to earn every victory in the upcoming season.
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