Twenty-seven seniors helped lead North Henderson's football team to a 7-4 record last season, and now veteran coach Jim Beatty said he is looking for his new senior class to lead the way.
"We've got 13 seniors that have really stepped up as leadership roles so far. We're expecting - you know - we're a little bit down as far as numbers this year, but I think they're hard-workers and hungry to get back at it," he said.
Beatty said he likes what he sees so far in both his offensive and defensive lines.
"We've got a lot of those kids back. They put on a lot of size in the offseason, got a lot bigger and stronger," he said.
Of the 13 seniors, one is running back Mason Gasperson, who had714 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. When asked about the importance of Gasperson to the offense, Beatty had one word: "Huge."
"He's a big part of the running game. He runs hard, downhill. That's what we want to do this year...run at people," Beatty said. "He's a physical runner and he leads by example. So he's going to get a lot of the young kids to start doing what they need to do by what he does."
North made it to the first round of the playoffs last year, falling to Mountain 7 Conference-rival Pisgah. Followed by West (6-0) and Pisgah (4-2), three teams had matching 3-3 records in league play last year: North, Smoky Mountain and Tuscola. Beatty believes it will be just as close this season.
"I think anybody can beat anybody on any Friday," he said.
The first test for the Knights will be a big one, as they will travel to Henderson County-rival Hendersonville on Aug. 23. North travels to Rosman on Aug. 30 and won't be home until Sept. 6, when it hosts Owen.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSNorth Henderson replacing a massive senior class (wlos.com)
