By Bob Suttton
Special to The Alamance News
With changes swirling at Southern Alamance, rest assured that the Patriots have a good share of bulked-up linemen and determined running backs.
So this version of Southern might look similar to its teams that have embraced the bully-ball approach. First-year coach Jonathan Hester is endorsing that as he shifts from an assistant coaching position.
“We have got blue-collar kids,” Hester said. “The players want workouts to be harder.”
With about 90 players in the program, the Patriots could be well-stocked for another notable year. Other than the spring 2021 season, they haven’t finished below second place in conference play since 2018.
“Ask any of our seniors, we have plenty of confidence,” said Jvan Hamby, a linebacker and running back.
Much of that comes from the renewed emphasis on physical football that was installed under former coach Fritz Hessenthaler from 2018-23.
“It has gotten better,” defensive lineman Brantley Messick said. “We’ve gotten back to just smash-mouth football. Hitting the weight room harder, just more conditioning. . . I know my class, we know how things are supposed to be run. Just the way we play, smash-mouth football. Making your opponent give up pretty much.”
Last year, Southern gained 2,853 yards on the ground and 664 in the air. The Patriots averaged 31.8 points per game (after 39.4 in 2023).
Running back/linebacker Jacob Alexander said the mindset will be familiar for the Patriots, even if there are tweaks.
“With Coach Hester coming in, he has brought things back to the way they were and the way they should be, and so that’s helped,” he said. “You just got to see how he works his magic. The last coach we had, it wasn’t Fritz obviously, but (Tony McCants) put his touch on things. Now we got Hester, he’s putting his twist on things. Similar offense with his twist on it.”
Offensive coordinator John Isley is a holdover from past staffs. The assistant coaches are a blend of veterans and newcomers.
“It’s kind of easy to adapt to, though, because of having Coach Hester coaching here so long already,” 297-pound offensive lineman Luke White said. “With him becoming the head coach, it’s just going back to how it was when Fritz was here. We’re still running it the same way.
“I think it is very important for us to get back to it. It’s a great thing for us because that’s what we came from and were really strong at.”
The quarterback will be Tustin Johnson, a junior who would have taken 2024 snaps if not for an off-field injury last summer that caused him to miss the entire season. That moves Nathan McNeal back to running back after a season at QB.
“I like being able to hit again,” McNeal said. “I think we’re a lot more disciplined this year and a lot more tougher and stronger because we took it more seriously in the weight room.”
Hester said his philosophy is for the Patriots to be molded in the form that created their winning stretch in recent years. It won’t be an exact copy.
“We’re switching defense up a little bit from what it was,” Hester said.
The Patriots hope to have kicker Kayden Simmons, who was the starting punter last season, available after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the lacrosse season.
