Matt Vines
STONEWALL – For most programs, losing 23 seniors off a team that advanced to the semifinals would signal a rebuilding effort and lower expectations for the next season.
But North DeSoto isn’t most football programs – not anymore.
Coach Dennis Dunn said the foundation of the program is such to where the Griffins just reload, having plenty of players who have patiently waited for their turn in the spotlight.
“We’ve had two big classes the last two years,” said Dunn, who guided North DeSoto to their first-ever state title game appearance in 2022. “This year’s senior class will be big as well – that’s just where our senior classes are now.
“Our program is to a point where it’s the next man up. The kids have worked hard in the program from middle school until now to get an opportunity to play. You want your culture to get to where the names and the faces change, but the results don’t.”
That next-man-up attitude has been especially prominent in North DeSoto’s spring and summer workouts.
Highly-rated quarterback Luke Delafield missed spring practice and the beginning of summer workouts with a thumb injury suffered on the baseball diamond.
Delafield is throwing the football again, but the Griffins still got plenty of work in with quarterback Miller Warren.
“Miller got a lot of reps and started the spring game against Evangel,” Dunn said. “Our next guy Hudson Toothman also played a valuable role, so it’s a positive to get guys live reps and to put them in situations to see how they respond.
“It’s unfortunate for Luke, but any time you can see the game from a different vantage point, you can mentally take in what’s happening out there. He’s so much further along from even this point last year in seeing defenses and reading coverages – he knows what’s happening pre-snap and what to expect post-snap. He’s a student of the game, and you love to see that.”
Studying Delafield’s first two seasons, the young gunslinger has combined for more than 5,700 passing yards and 76 touchdowns to 25 interceptions. He’ll be just a junior this season as he tries to lead the Griffins to their first-ever state title.
There are key weapons missing like receiver Landry Wyatt, running back Trysten Hopper and offensive linemen Gage Caskey, but North DeSoto does return is three most productive skill players including Delafield.
Leading receiver Cole Cory is one of the best pass-catchers in the state with 1,431 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.
Kenny Thomas led the North DeSoto ground attack with 1,269 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore.
The defense will be replacing key cogs like defensive back Lake Bates and linebacker B.T. McMillian, but the defensive line is emerging as a strong point after a young group has learned and gelled this past season.
“Up front is a strong point for us with guys like Konner Watson and Javon Brown after we were young on the defensive line last year,” Dunn said. “We have some holes to fill on defense with both of our linebackers and most of our secondary gone, but we have quality guys who are ready for their turn.
“They’ve played live reps this spring, and we continue to work on coverages and teach guys who haven’t been in the moment. They are starting to recognize offensive formations and respond to what the coverage calls are. 7-on-7 offers a lot of experience doing that.”