Big Changes For Heritage
Vidalia Heritage Academy is coming off another State Championship for the Eagles in the GAPPS 8-man football league. This year there are going to be a lot of changes as they are not only moving in the 9-man league in the GIAA, but they are also going to be under the leadership of a new head coach. Coach Josh Norton is coming in to lead the Eagles at VHA.
Coach Norton said, “I am really excited. I look at it as an opportunity, not only for myself, but for my players as well. The seniors that just graduated had a great run between football and baseball, and now it is exciting to see what this new group does. We don’t have a single senior on the team this year, so I am going to have my entire team for at least two years, and that is just a great opportunity coming in as a new head coach.”
Norton comes to Vidalia from Clermont, FL, Real Life Christian Academy. He said, “It was also a small Christian school. I actually helped start the program there. I started out with special teams and worked my way up from there to the Head Coach. We were 8-4 in my year as Head Coach and made it to the state semifinals. I was looking for an opportunity for growth, and this just fit. I am excited with this opportunity here at Heritage and I jumped at it.”
He added that it has been a culture shock for him as he grew up just outside of New York City, and then in Claremont it was also a town of around 50,000 people. “The people here have just been amazing; my coworkers and my players have been nothing short of incredible. I mean, I am around a bunch of teenagers, and these young men are just amazing. You never hear them say any cuss words, anything out of the way, they are just great young men, and I have been really impressed with them.”
Coach Norton came in at the beginning of June and they had a solid summer as they worked to set up the new systems. He was also able to come up in May for the Spring Game for two days and meet the kids. They have been working hard over the summer and he has seen a lot of improvements. Jumping from GAPPS to GIAA they know that they are going to see some tough competition, but they are prepared to meet it. He added that they are really excited about the new challenges that they have and are looking forward to them.
The Eagles are going to have to have some leaders step up for them as they lost their four key seniors from last season. With no seniors on the team this year they are going to be young, but they have had several kids come forward to meet the challenge of leading. Trevor White and Pearson O’Neil are both sophomores that have stepped up as leaders. Pearson is going to have to step up to fill Jake Adams' spot at quarterback to start the continued from page
season as Adams is coming off an injury. Adams has continued to lead the team from the sidelines currently as he is working his way back to playing condition. Gray McNeal has also become a real leader for the team.
On the coaching staff, there have not been any changes other than Norton replacing Seth Sitzman as the Head Coach. Sitzman moved on to Treutlen County to coach baseball and softball and has left a legacy at VHA. Norton will also be handling the Defensive Coordinator position for the Eagles and is bringing in his own scheme. Jeff McCormick will continue as the Offensive Coordinator for Heritage as well as Head of School. Bryan Habicht will handle the role of linemen, Blake Adams will be with the running backs and quarterbacks, and Billy Johns will take care of the linebackers and tight ends.
On the offense side of the ball, O’Neil will lead the team at quarterback as Adams heals up, but then transitions back into the backfield. Also, in the backfield for the Eagles will be Dylan Green, who made a big impact last year. Carson Morales is coming back after taking a year off and is a solid athlete who will be getting plenty of time as a running back. White will also be running the ball for the Eagles as fullback and had a big year last year as well. He is a sophomore and is lifting over 450 lbs. in deadlift and squat so brings a ton of power.
At receiver, the Eagles will be looking to Wayne Richardson to be the main guy as a returner at the position. They have two freshman that will also be filling the role of receiver with Levi McDade, who will be playing for the first time, and has made huge steps over the summer, and then Wyatt Norton will also see time out wide. Jackson Franklin is a key on defense for the Eagles but will also be seeing a lot more time on the offensive side of the ball this season. He has a lot of speed and has great hands, and they are trying to find a place for him this year.
Up on the line for the Eagles, they will have Peyton McLain, who is also fairly new to football. He really has come on this year and over the summer has made his presence know. Coach Norton said that he is everything that you want in a player with his attitude and work ethic. At the guards, they will have Brannen Brantley at left guard and Gray Mc-Neal will be on the right. Those two are big guys that have gained a lot of size and strength over the summer.
Over on the defensive side of the ball on the line, McNeal will be at one of the ends with Richardson at the other end to start. They have come a long way and are really working on outside containment for the Eagles. At nose guard for VHA, they will have Brantley stuffing up the middle.
The two linebackers for the Eagles will be Morales and White, who are going to be looked at to fill those roles. O’Neal will also get time at linebacker once Adams comes back from his injury. They are both physical players and are going to follow the ball well. At cornerback they will have Green and Norton in pass coverage. They both have stepped up over the summer and shown that they can fill those roles for the Eagles. At continued from page
safety, the Eagles will have Franklin over the top. He is the best pure tackler on the team and as a baseball player has great ball skills as that center fielder for the defense.
On special teams, the Eagles will look to Levi and Hamp McDade, who have come off the middle school soccer team. Levy will be handling the kicking duties with his twin brother Hamp as the holder. The long snapper for the punts will be White for the punts and McNeal for the field goals.
Coach Norton stated, “It has just been amazing moving to Heritage. I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone at the school has just been here to help, whether with concessions, or taking tickets, they have all just said sign us up for whatever you need. And to be able to work with Jeff not only in the classroom but on the field has been great. He just humbles himself every day. He is my boss in reality, but yet, on that field he really just lets me be the coach and defers to me, which shows who he truly is as a person.
“The parents, the community, the area has just been great. We have gotten donations of drinks from Thriftway, food from parents, DOT Foods has helped with food, Chickfil- A with all that they do, this has just been an awesome experience. We didn’t have a lot of community support at my last school, so this has just been great. Coming to this small town and seeing this has just been a breath of fresh air for me. This community cares about their kids, and it really shows. Seeing what has happened at all the schools in the area, competing and winning State Championships, this just seems like a hot bed for excellence and I am happy to be here and be a part of it.”
VHA Coaches – (L to R): Billy Johns, Offensive Coordinator Jeff McCormick, Head Coach Josh Norton, Bryan Habicht, and Blake Adams.Photo by Mike Branch
VHA Red Offense – (L to R, Front): Pearson O’Neal, Jackson Franklin, Dylan Green, Trevor White; (Back): Caoch Jeff McCormick, Perton McLain, Brannen Brantley, Gray McNeal, Wayne Richardson, Jake Adams, and Coach Blake Adams.Photo by Mike Branch
VHA Red Defense – (L to R, Front): Levi McDade, Wyatt Norton, Carson Morales, Dylan Green; (Back): Coach Bryan Habicht, Jackson Franklin, Brannen Brantley, Gray Mc-Neal, Wayne Richardson, Trevor White, and Head Coach Josh Norton.Photo by Mike Branch
VHA Linemen – (L to R, Front): Alex Acosta, Rocco Braddy, Logan Belcher, Peyton McLain; (Back): Truitt Jarriel, Brannen Brantley, Gray McNeal, and Coach Bryan Habicht.Photo by Mike Branch
VHA Quarterbacks/Running Backs – (L to R, Front): Chuck Page, Bragg Alford, Jacob Beasley, Carson Morales, Dylan Green; (Back): Coach Jeff McCormick, Jake Adams, Pearson O’Neal, and Trevor White.Photo by Mike Branch
VHA Cheerleaders – (L to R, Front): Anna Nalley, Libby Adams, Georgia Braddy, Braylie Braddy, Mattie Griffee; (Middle): Allegra Demircioglu, Lilly Wells, Rilyn Rodgers, Ansley Williams; (Back): Coach Charlsie Mobley, Ivy Hightower, Libby Clark, Teagan Carney, and Coach Denise Johns.Photo by Mike Branch
VHA Receivers – (L to R, Front): Hamp McDade, Whyatt Norton, Noah Proenza, Cole Johns, Carson Morales, Dylan Green; (Back): Head Coach Josh Norton, Levi McDade, Wayne Richardson, Jackson Franklin, and Trevor White.Photo by Mike Branch
