By: Andrew Mbow
On October 7th, the Spartans lost to the Chattahoochee Cougars 29-10. Sloppy defense led to the Spartans losing the lead after half-time. Junior Christopher “CJ” Johnson had to step up to the plate and play quarterback, which is not normal, as he is usually a receiver. Two fumbles, one of which was on the Spartans own 40-yard line, gave Chattahoochee a longer time for ball possession. With an uneventful game such as this, the Spartans needed to get on top of their game and focus on taking on Greater Atlanta Christian away from home.
Unfortunately, the Spartans got demolished by their opponents at Greater Atlanta Christian on October 14th. The final score was 41-7. This region game setting the precedent for games to come, as the Spartans faced tough opponents across their next three games. Sub-par defense coupled with a lack of offense is what created the huge differential in score. The only touchdown came from senior quarterback Anthony Young, who has been an absolute workhorse for North Springs this year. Having a 1-2 record in region play is not good for the Spartans, as they needed to win one game to have probable entry to the playoff, while winning two would get them in for sure.
However, losing against the 2-5 Centennial knights on the 21st, they would knock them out of post-season football. They would really have to against a strong team to break their losing streak and come out on top for their final home game of the season as the temperature fell.
The Spartans lost another game on the road against Centennial on October 21. This loss was not as brutal as their previous loss, but the Spartans simply could not contain the Knights, as they were outscored 38-6. The Spartans simply did not come to play this game and could not preform offensively. The Spartans needed to desperately turn around, as opposing offenses were blasting holes through the Spartan defense. How could the Spartans turn things around after taking their third loss in a row? Unfortunately they couldn’t. The Spartans lost their fourth game in a row the following week after getting demolished by Kell football. The Longhorns posted 42 points over the Spartans. They could not even muster a single point against the rival team; the final score was 42-0. These losses proved very embarrassing for the Spartans, as their nearly perfect season had gone to waste after these three successive losses. The Kell game not only ruined the Spartans winning record, but knocked them out of the playoffs.
With nothing to lose, the Spartans took on the Cambridge Bears away from home for their final game on November 4th, but the Spartans got slammed. The Bears have been an overwhelming force in Georgia football and are serious playoff contenders year after year. The Bears posted an astonishing 59 points to 6, with the Spartan’s one touchdown coming from senior defensive back Lee Levingston III off a returned interception. This was a horrifying way to go out for all our senior Spartans.
So now it’s all over, but the question remains; “What’s next for the North Spring Spartans?”
The first thing that needs to be fixed is their defense. The Spartans play good defense; however, they tire very quickly. This was clearly apparent with the cramps that many of the defensive players suffered through the year. If the Spartans can condition well enough and get the proper nutrition that they need, they can strafe the injuries that occur during the season.
Next is the Spartan offense. The Spartans have many extraordinary athletes in their offensive corps. They host a variety of exceptionally capable players that are willing to get better to defeat their opponents. However, the season was plagued by fumbles and miscommunication on the offensive line.
Lastly are making use of the Spartan special teams corps. The special teams are where player that don’t get playing time get to shine. Many of the players that play on the special teams often get shots. The Spartans are full of hardworking players ready to take any opportunity that they can to get better.
Although they didn’t reach their goal of making the 5A region 6 playoffs, the Spartans still played an amazing season, with many highlights and memorable plays. Only the test of time will be able to tell if they will continue to get better or slide back down to their previous seasons.
Go Spartans!!!
