Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:11 AM
Updated Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:20 AM

Frank Johnson
Gator quarterback Donta Brown barks out the signals as center Dennis Large prepares to snap the ball during the Berkeley County Jamboree.

Gators ready to build on success

After a 2007 season that saw the Gators post an 8-4 record and notch a victory over rival Stratford, that goal could be a challenging one.

Still, the seventh-year coach who has resurrected the GCHS football program sees reason for cautious optimism entering the fall campaign.

Offensively, the Gators will turn to veteran starter Donta Brown at quarterback.

“We have the luxury of a three-year starter at quarterback,” Reedy  said. “That’s a great place to start.

“Donta is certainly a leader. He has started 22 games since his sophomore year. He can beat you throwing and running. He is ideal for what we do.”

Goose Creek also returns three three-year starters on the offensive line – right tackle Daniel Berg, who tips the scales at 350 pounds and stands 6’8”, left guard Garrett Welch, and center Caleb McCutchen, who was moved to the position from tight end.

“Beyond that, we have a lot of question marks,” Reedy said. “We have some guys who have the potential, but they need to prove that they can step up.”

Over the last four years, the Gators have averaged an impressive 30 points a game and over 400 yards of offense. “We’ve had really good receivers … but we have no returning players at receiver,” the head coach said.

Reedy said that junior wideout Kevin Glears “has potential … but is inexperienced.”

The Gators will continue to operate out of an I-formation and run the option-oriented offensive attack that has brought Reedy so much success over his coaching career.

Daniel Smith will continue to handle all of the kicking duties, and Reedy said the junior “has a bright future.”

Defensively, Reedy’s squad returns three starters off of last year’s eight-win team: linebackers Malcolm Howard and Dontavia Reid, and cornerback Albert Kirk.

“We’ve lost some quality players on defense,” Reedy said. “We’re going to be young, but we run well. It’s probably the most athletic team, with the most speed, since I’ve been here. I think we’ll get better and better as the year goes on.”

The Gators will employ a Multiple 4-4 defensive scheme.

“We’re going to start seven juniors and four seniors ... we will be junior-oriented defensively,” Reedy said.

According to Reedy, the Gator program may have reached a turning point. “We’re at a point in our program where we expect to win,” he said. “It’s taken us a long time to get to that point.

“We’ve worked extra hard in the off season. We’ve got good, young players coming up.

“I don’t know how good we’re going to be. We (set the goal) to improve each year when I got here. It will be a challenge for this team to continue that trend.”

If the Gators’ performance in the Berkeley County Jamboree is any indication, the squad may be up to the challenge. Goose Creek toppled Berkeley, who Reedy calls the team to beat in Region 7AAAA, and Stratford in those scrimmages.

Prior to the jamboree, Reedy called preseason success crucial for his young squad.

“I think it’s important we have some success prior to the first game,” he said. “Somewhere in there these kids need to be confident about what they are doing.”

After meeting Stratford for the second time in as many weeks at Sertoma, the Gators will be tested early and often in the regular season.

Goose Creek travels to Northwestern to start the year Aug. 29, and then hosts Summerville Sept. 5 for the first two of five straight non-region tilts.

The Gators face Stratford at home Oct. 3, and will host Wando for homecoming Oct. 24.