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Tigers try their hand at 3A

Johns not shirking away from challenge of jumping up a class

Photo by James Nix

Mount Pleasant's Brandon Wensil blocks a teammate during a drill at the Tigers' practice Monday, Aug. 10.

By Steve Winzenread | Independent Tribune

Published: August 21, 2009

MOUNT PLEASANT - One of the most interesting storylines of the high school football season is in Mount Pleasant.

The Tigers, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a 3A football league, even though the school has 2A enrollment.

A 2008 vote by the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education created the situation that Mr. Spock could call "illogical."

Mike Johns, who has been head coach at the same school longer than any of his peers in Cabarrus County, is not shirking from the challenge the Tigers face.

But he points out what's evident: "Obviously it would be nice to be a little bigger."

Still, in early August, there were 90 football candidates preparing for the new season with the Tigers.

Compare that to about 95 at Concord and around 80 at Central Cabarrus, for example, and it's approximately what those fellow South Piedmont Conference schools are working with.

What raw numbers don't reflect are talent, experience or tradition.

Mount Pleasant has built an above-average tradition under Johns, making the playoffs each year and winning at least one game, if not more, in the postseason.

"We've made the playoffs several years in a row," Johns said. "That's what we're aiming for. We want to continue that run. It's not like we wish it anymore, it's like it's expected. I feel like that helps us going into the season."

The Tigers went 8-5 last year, including a 1-1 record in the 2AA playoffs.

Back from that team is senior quarterback Matt Barrier, who took over Mount's spread offense in 2008 when senior Evan Seymour was sidelined by injury.

"(Barrier) had a tremendous opportunity last year," Johns said. "He stepped up and he played well. I think he played in nine games last year and did an exceptional job."

The other offensive returner is senior slot Casey Honeycutt.

One of the changes for the Tigers in 2009 is "we're running tight end sets this year," Johns said.

The probable starter at tight end is senior Dewey Andrews, who was a standout linebacker a year ago.

"We feel like we need some playmakers on offense," Johns said. "We moved him to offense. He played tight end on the jayvees as a freshman and sophomore and did an outstanding job.

"We're going to get him involved in the offense. Dewey is a real good athlete. If you have a threat at tight end, somebody who can block and catch and run with the ball, that adds an element to your offense. We'll play him in the secondary on defense. We feel like it's easier to go both ways that way."

More starters return on defense than offense: lineman Shane Hooks, linebackers (and brothers) Ryan and Zack Cook, linebacker Christian Cannon and back Michael McCandless.

"Mike's probably going to play a lot of offense (as well) this year," Johns said.

Johns said the Tigers have new faces on the varsity who will contribute.

"We're really pleased with our young guys," he said. "We've got some good young talent. We had a
really good jayvee team last year that went 7-3. All three of our losses were by a touchdown or less. We were a score away from winning all our games last year. We feel good about the rising juniors.
And we have a few sophomores that we're going to take a look at.

"We're still at the point where we're trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. We're going to be patient. I feel like we're going to be good. We're solid at some positions and we have a lot of question marks at others. But we have the numbers. It's not like we don't have candidates. We just have to get the candidates in the right spots."

The oddity in the Mount Pleasant schedule this year is aptly explained by Johns.

"It's funny, I feel like our nonconference schedule is now our conference schedule, and our conference schedule is now our nonconference schedule from last year," he said.

Former league opponents Albemarle, Monroe, South Stanly and West Stanly are the Tigers' nonconference foes this season.

In looking at league opponents this year, the only two teams the Tigers didn't play or scrimmage last year are A.L. Brown and new school Cox Mill.

"I really enjoyed our short two-year series with Kannapolis," Johns said. "It was a lot of fun, a lot of excitement. Kannapolis is going to have a crowd and is going to bring a crowd. We're excited about having them back on our schedule."