Fruitland – The Knights tied their mark for most wins ever in a 7-4 campaign in 2023. They were the Mountain Seven Conference’s third seed for 3A playoffs, prevailing in a three-way tie at 3-3 thanks to a better overall mark.
This season, North Henderson (1-1) beat Rosman 44-0 in week two, after losing its opener 20-7 at Hendersonville. NHHS returns merely four starters on offense, and two on defense. Yet head coach Jim Beatty said, “We have a lot of confidence.” New starters “have seen what it takes to win. They’ve bought in. They’ve worked hard.”
Beatty is proud that his defense yielded merely one touchdown to HHS, after “we fumbled and gave them a short field.” The Bearcats scored on an interception return and fumble recovery in the NHHS end zone.
Knight quarterback Caleb Woodring (5-11, 135 sr.) silenced the Bearcat home crowd when he rolled left, and lobbed a bomb to Josh Justice at the HHS one. Woodring is “pretty quick. We sprint him out some,” Beatty said. “When he’s on the run, his arm strength is really good. He’s worked hard to make good decisions.”
Foes Gasp at Gasperson
Star runner Mason Gasperson (6-0, 188 sr.) is a “smart, instinctive player,” Beatty said. “He tells others where to line up. He’s stronger, and hard-nosed. We didn’t have many open holes” against HHS. “But Mason got yards on his own, moving the pile.”
Gasperson scored as a wildcat quarterback near the end of the opening quarter at HHS. He rushed for four TDs and 159 yards in the first half at Rosman. Beatty widely subbed after that. Rosman was coming off the emotional loss of two players killed in a vehicular accident.
Other backs are Parker Willis (5-10, 165 fr.), Ayden Berry (6-0, 270 jr.), and swift Derek Williams (5-10, 165 jr.). Freshman Willis “has good vision,” Beatty said.
Receivers are Josh Justice (5-9, 160 jr.), Brody McMillan (6-3, 177 sr.), Dylan Kleinknecht (6-2, 154 jr.) and/or Alex Hubbard (5-11, 177 so.), and TE Braxton Heath (6-3, 195 sr.).
Large Offensive Line
A large, strong line again has center Avery Thompson (6-3, 275 sr.), guard Brett Becker (6-2, 255 sr.), and tackle Miles Blanton (6-5, 300 jr.). New starters are tackle James Mondin (6-5, 242 sr.) and G/C Sammy Reyes (6-1, 198 jr.). Beatty touts their ability to “push people around.”
The kicker is Laz Reyes (5-11, 190 so.).
The defense features MLB Jake Justice (5-9, 190 jr.) and OLBs Eli Blanton (5-9, 190 jr.), and punishing Vance Lockamy (6-1, 188 sr.). D-linemen include DT Ty Stepp (6-2, 245 sr.) and DEs Becker and Heath. The secondary has safeties McMillan and Gasperson, and CBs Williams and Justice. Vocal leaders include Stepp, Becker, and Gasperson.
“We’re going to rely on our defense,” Coach Beatty said. “We played extremely hard” versus HHS. “We got after them. We made three picks. Kids were flying to the ball, with three to five making tackles.”
NHHS hosts Owen this Friday, has an off week, then opens its conference slate at West on Sept. 20. “Until someone beats West, they’re tops,” Coach Beatty said. But time is on the young Knights’ side.