Playing a junior varsity schedule in their inaugural season last year, Johns Creek put together a respectable 6-4 record. However, this year, it's going to be baptism by fire. Thanks to their new region (region 7-AAAA) that consists of 11 teams, head coach Mike Cloy won't get to schedule any cupcake non-region games, his team will open their schedule with a 90-minute bus ride to Rome. And Cloy wouldn't have it any other way, "I really like having a full region schedule because at the end of the year, you know who the top four teams are," the second-year Johns Creek coach says. "So I think its great, it will be challenging for us, but we're up to it."

When Cloy says it's going to be challenging, he's not kidding. Johns Creek will only be dressing 40 players for varsity games, the same amount as some Class A schools and less than half what some of Johns Creek's region opponents will dress. Cloy doesn't expect his team to win a region title, in year one, he says, as a coach, you want the simple things. "We tell the kids we want four things: we want hard work, we want to play as a team, we want a great attitude and we want them to be coachable," says Cloy. "We've got a great coaching staff and great kids, if they listen to us and do what we ask them, then we'll compete, we'll compete in every game."

Cloy's 40 varsity players will consist of five seniors, 15 juniors and the rest will be underclassman. Cloy sees one huge advantage to having such a young team: he didn't lose one starter to graduation. He's returning 11 starters on offense, 11 on defense and his two specialists. There's not many other teams in Georgia that can say that.

Offense

On the offensive side of the ball, the catalyst for the Gladiators will be sophomore quarterback Skye Overton. Overton started last year as a freshman and Cloy thinks that sky's the limit for his quarterback [pun intended]. "Our quarterback is really a talent," says Cloy.

Overton will have some talented wide receivers in senior Jay Barden and junior Lee Keidel. Sharing the backfield with Overton will be tailbacks Antonio Morales and Tommy Welch. "I think we have three good tailbacks and we have some good receivers," says Cloy. "So I think you'll see some progression [as the season goes along] and I think we'll get better and better.

Offensively, Cloy's biggest concern is his line and it's not because they lack talent, it's because they're undersized. The front five only average 190 pounds. During the Gladiators Aug. 13 scrimmage against Northview, Overton was sacked several times " I need to fire the offensive line coach," Cloy said after that game. "Which is me."

"We missed a lot of assignments [in the scrimmage], but we used that as a teaching and learning situation," the former Centennial and Alpharetta head coach says. "I think we've got decent linemen. We don't have enough of them, but I think the ones we have are good, tough competitive kids." Overton's protection will come from guards Kirby Southard and Austin Dubois; tackles Ethan Flynn and Forrest Montet and center Sam Arrington. While Flynn and Southard are juniors, the other three linemen are sophomores.

Defense

With only 40 players on his varsity roster, Cloy is going to have to do something that most of his region opponents won't have to do: have guys play both sides of the ball. Remember senior wide receiver Jay Barden? When Johns Creek is on defense, Barden will line up at defensive end, a far cry from his offensive skill position. Lee Keidel's brother, Mark, will fill the other end position. Defensive coordinator and former Alpharetta head coach Bill Waters has implemented a 5-2 defense at Johns Creek. Southard will man the all important nose tackle position while Justin Grava and senior Brad Agerton will be on either side of him manning the tackle spots.

Two of the three linebackers will be guys playing extensively on offense and defense. Welch and Arrington will be joined by Freddy Ortiz.

Corners Matt Azemar and Parker Asbell will lead the defensive backfield. They'll be joined by safeties Lee Keidel and Andrew Szambelan.

"Defensively, we just need to play assignment football," Cloy says. "In the [Northview scrimmage], the guys were running all over the place and that's just youth and inexperience. We need to do away with the big plays and then we can compete."

Special Teams

One of the highlights of Johns Creek's first season should be kicker Kyle Fowler. Fowler nailed two extra points in the scrimmage against Northview and fell just short on a 47-yard field goal attempt. The fact that the coaches had the confidence to let Fowler try the kick speaks volumes about his potential. Punting for the Gladiators will be junior Grant Brown.

If Johns Creek is going to see any big plays on special teams this year, it will most likely come from punt returner Moralis or kickoff return man Azemar.