Over the past few years, Columbus North has had a chance to test itself against other football teams at camps and informal scrimmages.
Because of COVID-19, the Bull Dogs didn’t get to measure themselves against anyone else until Saturday night’s scrimmage with Greenwood. Because of that, it will be a different feel going into Friday’s season opener against Gibson Southern.
“There’s just a lot of uncertainty in the air because usually by this time, we’ve played several scrimmages by now and we haven’t been able to do that this year,” North coach Tim Bless said. “It’s just been us, and it’s either, ‘Gosh our offense is really good, or our defense is really bad.’ It’s not until you go against another team until you see where you’re really at.”
The Bull Dogs will be experienced on offense, especially in the backfield and on the offensive line.
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Junior Luke Hammons stepped in as a sophomore last year and completed 64 of 132 passes for 781 yards and four touchdowns. He figures to throw the ball a little more this season.
“We definitely hope to seek balance,” Bless said. “We were overly one-dimensional last year. We hope to use him as a thrower, but he’s also a dual threat. As defensive coordinator, he’s driven my defense crazy being able to throw and run.”
Senior Blake Huffman, who is entering his third year as a starter, was a workhorse when he was healthy last season. He carried 212 times for 879 yards and 10 touchdowns while battling an ankle injury he sustained in Week 3.
“I’m optimistic about our backfield,” Bless said. “When you have returning starters at key positions as quarterback and running back, it’s going to help. Luke has definitely shown growth and maturity at his position, and Blake is going to be phenomenal.”
North returns only 13 of its 67 catches from last season, and Huffman had four of those. Senior Eshaan Patel is a returning starter and will be joined at receiver by juniors Keegan Castetter and Jaxson Scruggs, sophomore Tyler Blythe and senior Nolan Miller.
Senior Reid Duncan takes over at tight end for Mitchel Collier, who was last year’s Mr. Football Position Award winner for tight ends and was The Republic Football Player of the Year.
Junior Neal Lykins moves from tight end to tackle, where he joins three-year starter and Division I prospect J.J. Montgomery. Seniors Elijah Sebastian, who suffered season-ending knee injury prior to Week 4, and Mason Branstetter will be the guards.
Senior Isaac Woodruff started some games at center last year is out for a couple weeks with an injury. In the meantime, sophomore Kokkao Yee will fill in at center.
“I would say coming into the season, that (offensive line) is a position group that looks to be the steadiest and the strength of our team,” Bless said.
In Bless’ 4-3 defense, Montgomery and Lykins will split time at one end, with senior Bryan Lopez stepping in at the other end. Senior Nate Austerman and junior Dawson Adams were in the rotation at tackle last year and will be starters this season.
Bless’ son, senior Luke Bless, takes over at middle linebacker. Senior Adam Schwartz and junior Connor Essick will play one outside linebacker spot, and senior Royce Lofton returns at the other outside linebacker position.
“He’ll get a lot of carries at running back,” Tim Bless said. “He’s kind of the thunder behind Blake’s lightning.”
Senior Charlie Winick and Luke Golding, along with Scruggs, will play the corner positions. Senior Avrin Holt returns at safety and will be joined there by senior Jamal King and junior Matthew Hager.
“They’re coming along,” Tim Bless said. “I would say our offense has been ahead of our defense in camp. But I definitely feel like our defense is making strides.”
Senior Carter Ward returns as the kicker and punter.
“He’s had a great camp,” Tim Bless said. “I think he’s going to have a big season.”
After going 9-2, 9-2 and 8-2 the previous three seasons, the Bull Dogs slipped to 5-5 last year, including 3-2 in Conference Indiana. Bloomington North, which returns several key players, likely is the favorite to defend the conference title.
“I think our conference is going to be a fun competition like it usually is,” Tim Bless said. “Really 1 to 6, there’s not going to be a huge difference.”
The coach is pleased with what he’s seen in his players the first two weeks of practice.
“Attendance has been great,” he said. “Effort and attitude has been great. I’m very happy with the progress. We’re not where we typically are in early-to-mid-August. But that’s the way it is across the state, so I feel like we’re on equal footing.”
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The 2020 Columbus North football schedule:
Friday;Gibson Southern;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28;Columbus East;7 p.m.
Sept. 4;at Southport;7 p.m.
Sept. 11;Roncalli;7 p.m.
Sept. 18;at Cincinnati Mt. Healthy;7 p.m.
Sept. 25;Terre Haute North;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2;at Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Oct. 9;Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Oct. 16;at Terre Haute South;7:30 p.m.
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