With Trenton Kelley at quarterback the past two years, Columbus North wasn’t afraid to sling the football around.
But now that Kelley and his projected replacement, along with the Bull Dogs’ top two receivers from last season, are gone, and with 1,200-yard rusher Blake Hufman returning, they figure to be much more of a run-heavy offensive unit this fall.
“We’re not going to throw it as much as we did with Trenton Kelley,” North coach Tim Bless said. “But we certainly feel like we can throw the ball, and we have to throw. You have to be balanced, but percentage wise, we’ll probably run it more than we did the last couple years.”
Huffman carried 224 times for 1,231 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 314 yards and three scores as a sophomore last season, when the Bull Dogs posted an 8-2 record, including 5-0 in winning the Conference Indiana title.
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“He’s a great receiver out of the backfield, he is great in pass protection and he knows the offense probably better than anybody on our team,” Bless said. “He’s a very complete back.”
Taking over at quarterback is senior Hunter Huser. Huser caught 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns last year, but was moved to quarterback in June following the transfer of Cody Ruble to Seymour.
While Kelley was a prototype passer, Huser is more of a runner.
“He is making very good progress as a thrower,” Bless said. “That’s probably where he was the farthest behind, not having played the position since his freshman year. But we’re very pleased with the progress he’s made the first two weeks.”
When Huser throws, it likely will be to senior receiver Gio Alejandro, junior receivers Eshaan Patel and Charlie Winick at receiver and senior tight end Mitchel Collier. Alejandro caught eight passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and Collier, a Central Michigan recruit, had 10 catches for 94 yards.
Junior Reed Duncan will play the H-back position.
Junior JJ Montgomery returns at left tackle, where he will be joined by senior Alex Russell, who is being pushed by junior Elijah Sebastian Seniors Dalton Kirk and Jackson Davis return at guard, with junior Nathan Branstetter also vying for playing time. Junior Isaac Woodruff takes over at center.
“Our offensive line should be a strength of our team,” Bless said.
On defense, Collier returns at end, and senior Montez Mitchell moves from tackle to end, where senior Adam Behling also will see some action. Junior Nate Austerman and senior Luke McDonald step into the tackle spots, with senior Rashan Wells also seeing action.
Senior Landon Robbins, who led North with 77 tackles, returns at middle linebacker. Senior Jackson Payne is back at outside linebacker, but was injured in a Unified track meet and could return early to midseason. Senior Nick Holt and junior Royce Lofton will begin the year at the outside linebacker spots.
Senior Daveed Jolley, the backup running back, moves from corner to safety, where he will team with senior Nash Johnson. Juniors Winick, Jamal King, Avrin Holt and Marquise Nixon are battling for the starting corner spots, and all of them also could play some safety.
“I would say our defensive line is probably the premier group on our team,” Bless said. “Once we get full strength at linebacker, that’s very solid, as well.”
Junior Carter Ward and senior Spencer Rivera both saw action at kicker and punter last season. Ward currently has the edge at both spots.
North tuned up for Friday’s regular season opener against Avon at Lucas Oil Stadium by scrimmaging at Greenwood on Friday. The Bull Dogs outscored the Woodmen four touchdowns to one during the varsity portion.
“I was very pleased with our offseason dedication,” Bless said. “Our offseason numbers cumulative is probably as good as any team I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t say we’re as ready made as we’ve been the last two or three years, but I think we have an opportunity to be a very solid football team.”
Unfortunately for the Bull Dogs, that might not mean another 8-1 regular season like they’ve had the past three years. They replaced Franklin with perennial power Avon for the opener. Then come games at Columbus East, home against Southport at Roncalli and home against Guerin Catholic, the lone team to beat North in last year’s regular season.
The sectional could be the toughest in the state with perennial powers Center Grove and East joining the Bull Dogs and Franklin Central. Center Grove has knocked North out in the sectional the past five and seven of the past eight years.
“Who knows what our record will be like after Week 4?” Bless said. “We could be a really good team, and our record may not show it. We play rigorous competition, especially early in the season.”
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The 2019 Columbus North football schedule:
Friday;Avon (at Lucas Oil Stadium);8:45 p.m.
Aug. 30;at Columbus East;7 p.m.
Sept. 6;Southport;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13;at Roncalli;7 p.m.
Sept. 20;Guerin Catholic;7 p.m.
Sept. 27;at Terre Haute North;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4;Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Oct. 11;at Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Oct. 18;Terre Haute South;7 p.m.
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