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On the rise: Raccoons look to build from playoff run
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
Last season culminated in Frisco’s first playoff berth in four years. After two postseason victories and a full offseason, the Raccoons are looking to build off that success in 2012.
“We want to win the district championship and get into the playoffs,” said Vance Gibson, Frisco head coach. “Then maybe we can go on a run in the playoffs.”
The playoff spot last season was earned thanks in large part to a quick start that saw Frisco win six of its first seven games. If the Raccoons are to duplicate that early success, a win over North Forney tonight would be the starting point.
However, it will be a new-look team that takes the field for Frisco tonight, with key contributors such as running back Carlos Harris, quarterback Eric Allen and utility player Austin Zoda lost to graduation.
“It will be interesting to find out who steps up,” Gibson said. “I think we’ve got some guys that are capable of doing that.”
Harris might be the most difficult player to replace after earning all-district and all-county honors by rushing for more than 1,700 yards on 223 carries (7.72 yards per rush) and scoring a total of 23 touchdowns. That job will likely fall to senior running back Ben Cole, senior fullback Derek Deiter and junior fullback Matt Nollman.
“We actually won a bulk of our games last year with [Harris] hurt,” Gibson said. “So we’ve proven that we can win with other guys getting all the carries.”
The offensive attack will now be led by junior quarterback Jake Battaglia, who started three games during his sophomore campaign.
“We have all the confidence in the world in [Battaglia],” Gibson said.
Even after three starts, including the first half of Frisco’s first-round playoff matchup against Wylie East, Battaglia attempted just nine passes all year and completed five of them for 152 yards.
On the ground, Battaglia carried the ball 25 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
“[Battaglia] can run the football a little bit,” Gibson said.
Two returning starters lead a rebuilt offensive line with senior tackles Preston Morgan and Alex Nguyen as the most experienced of the group.
Morgan and Nguyen will be joined by new starters in senior guards Mason Brewer and Donavan Baca and senior center Blake Graves.
“The offensive line might be the strength of the team this year,” Gibson said. “They’ve been very productive.”
The line will play a pivotal role after Frisco implemented the Wing-T offense last season and will use that attack for just the second time in 2012.
“It was our first year ever running it last year so there are things we can do a better job of this time,” Gibson said. “We can definitely do a better job of distributing the ball to different players.”
Frisco will also return seven starters from its defensive unit, including middle linebacker Frankie Jesse.
“[Jesse] does a good job of setting the tempo for us,” Gibson said. “I feel good about our defense.”
Despite a 6-1 mark against 9-4A counterparts last season, the Raccoons entered the playoffs as the two seed after cross-town rival Centennial completed an undefeated regular season. The two teams will have new challengers in Little Elm, Prosper and The Colony after a district realignment sent Carrollton ISD schools to another district.
“There is not a whole lot of difference between any team in our district this year,” Gibson said. “It’s completely up for grabs and we should have some spots decided in the last week of the season.”
Before district action begins Sept. 28 against Wakeland, the Raccoons will look to complete a successful non-district slate that begins tonight.
Frisco and North Forney will kick off the new season at 7 p.m. from FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco.
“We just talk about playing the one game we get to play each week,” Gibson said. “We have to stay focused on winning one game per week.”
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