Every game is important during a high school football season, but this year’s Northside Methodist Knights team has a unique importance to their games this season.
“We have coined this year, ‘The Bowl Year’ because there is not a team on our schedule that we have beaten in school history whether we haven’t played them before or just have not beaten them before,” Northside Methodist head coach Stefan Gainey said of the Knights, who enter their fifth year in the Alabama High School Athletic Association. “So, we have given each week a bowl game theme … Every week is an opportunity to be a legend.”
Seven of last year’s eight foes from Class 3A, Region 2 are gone – five went up to Class 4A and two dropped to Class 2A. Only Houston Academy and NMA remained in 3A, 2. As a result, the Knights picked up six new region foes – Montgomery area schools Alabama Christian, Montgomery Academy, Prattville Christian and Trinity plus Wiregrass programs Slocomb and Wicksburg.
In non-region games, Northside Methodist plays city rival Providence Christian plus Samson and Pataula Charter (Ga.).
The Knights’ only previous opponents are Houston Academy (0-2 all time), Providence Christian (0-4), Slocomb (0-2) and Wicksburg (0-2). They have not played the other six foes – Pataula Charter (Ga.), Samson, Alabama Christian, Prattville Christian, Montgomery Academy and Trinity.
“On paper, it looks tough, but the team is focused, and we will swing our sword this year,” Gainey said on a play of words relating to Knights’ weaponry.
Northside Methodist, which finished 2-8 last year, brings a relatively inexperienced team into 2024, said Gainey, now in his second year as the Knights’ head coach.
“We had 12-13 seniors who graduated, and we bring eight-nine back, including some that haven’t played in a while,” Gainey.
Six starters return on defense, though five are seniors. Only three starters are back on offense with two being seniors.
Of the six returning defensive starters, three are up front on the line in seniors Cash Smith (6-0, 170) and Ross Overby (5-11, 270) and junior J.D. Webb (6-2, 220).
A pair of seniors return at linebacker, including Jordan Sanford (5-10, 190), who is getting some interest from small colleges. Coleman Fullbright (6-0, 175) is the other returning senior linebacker.
The secondary features one returning starter – cornerback Gunnar Jacobson (6-1, 160).
Other expected see a lot of action on defense are Everett Crum (Jr., 5-10, 265) on the D-line, Carter Wells (Sr., 6-0) at linebacker, Kingston Whaley (Jr., 5-10, 160), Jeremy Jeffcoat (Jr., 5-10, 155), Issac Hancock (Jr., 5-10, 135) and Kyle Kirchhoff (Sr., 5-10, 170) in the secondary. Kirchhoff, a basketball standout, is playing football for the first time.
Blake Jimmerson (Sr., 5-11, 155) will play outside linebacker in a hybrid linebacker/safety role. Fitz Carter (Sr., 6-0, 160), NMA’s kicker, may also have to play some in the secondary.
Offensively, all three returning starters are on the line – Overby, Smith and Webb. Channing Reeves (5-11, 190) is expected to be the center. Javen Danford (6-3, 215) is also projected to start up front. Three of the five are seniors with Webb a junior and Danford a sophomore.
The Knights feature a new quarterback after the graduation of Harrison Hicks. John Michael Mordecai, who was JV quarterback two years ago, but didn’t play last year, is expected to be the QB starter. Mordecai, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound junior, threw three touchdowns in a spring game in 2023 against Barbour County.
“John Michael has come back out for us, so we should be able to still throw the ball some,” Gainey said. “He can throw it as well as Harry (Harrison Hicks) could and has the element of running it. We may have some dual threat options.”
Gainey said Mordecai is not the biggest player, but “his heart is huge. He is a competitor for sure.”
Whaley is a returning starter at running back and will share the backfield workload with Wells and Sanford.
“They are not separating themselves, so it will be by committee,” Gainey said.
Jeffcoat is a returning starter at wide receiver. Grayson Barbaree (Jr., 5-11, 165), a soccer standout, and Hancock, a transfer from Rehobeth, are others expected to start at wide receiver spots.
Fitz Carter returns for his third year as a kicker/punter for the Knights. Sanford is the snapper on special teams with Jimmerson holding on the scoring kicks.
“I am feeling pretty good about the way the team has started to go about its business,” Gainey said in July of his team. “I like the way the boys have been preparing. We had some volunteer for 6 a.m. workouts and that’s always a good thing. That says they are ready to work.”
Finding quality depth is a key for the Knights.
“It is all about how many quality plays I can get out of our first 11,” Gainey said. “The true test of the team is how many quality plays I can get out of back-ups. Even if it is just 10 plays, that will make a difference.
“Our motto is ‘How many quality plays can you give me? Starters, how many quality plays can you give me? Subs, how many quality plays can you give us?’ We are trying to develop a little depth.”
KNIGHTS AT A GLANCE
Head coach: Stefan Gainey (2nd year at Northside Methodist and as head coach, 2-8)
2023 record : 2-8 overall, 1-7 in Class 3A, Region 2
2023 results: at Houston County (W, 25-6); Cottonwood (L, 38-52); Opp # (L, 7-19); at Pike County # (L, 0-47); Daleville # (W, 35-34); Providence Christian # (L, 10-19); at Houston Academy # (L, 7-42); at Straughn # (L, 21-56); Ashford # (L, 20-40); at New Brockton # (L, 14-27)
Points scored/per game: 177/17.7
Points allowed/per game : 342/34.2
Returning offensive starters (3): OL Ross Overby (Sr., 5-11, 270); OL Cash Smith (Sr., 5-9, 170); OL JD Webb (Jr., 6-2, 220).
Returning defensive starters (6): DL JD Webb (Jr., 6-2, 220); DL Cash Smith (Sr., 6-0, 170); Dl Ross Overby (Sr., 5-11, 270); LB Jordan Sanford (Sr., 5-10, 190); LB Coleman Fullbright (Sr., 6-0, 175); CB Gunnar Jacobsen (Sr., 6-1, 160).
2024 Schedule
Aug. 23 at Pataula Charter (Ga.)
Aug. 30 Providence Christian
Sept. 5 (Thur) Alabama Christian #
Sept. 13 at Prattville Christian #
Sept. 20 at Montgomery Academy #
Sept. 27 Off
Oct. 4 at Slocomb #
Oct. 11 Trinity #
Oct. 18 Houston Academy #
Oct. 25 Wicksburg #
Nov. 1 Samson
# Denotes region contest…Read more by david mundee, DAVID MUNDEE dmundee@dothaneagle.com
