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Published: 2022-12-07 21:42:55
Updated: 2022-12-07 21:42:55
Posted December 7, 2022 9:42 p.m. EST
By Kyle Morton, HighSchoolOT producer
Northern Nash football went through some lean years, but a long process has culminated with the development of a group that has led the program to its second ever state championship game appearance.
In 2018, Andrew Farriss took the program over and engineered a 3-1 start that withered away with an 0-7 finish to the season.
The following season, a group of freshmen made their way into the program that would become the primary group of this year’s core.
“A lot of guys in that class have been great leaders since we’ve been there,” Farriss said. “A core group that we have in that class that has really been special since they’ve been there as far as in the weight room, putting in the work in the off-season and then obviously putting in the work when the lights came on.”
The gem of the class is quarterback Keno Jones, who has thrown for 38 touchdowns this year and run for 14 more.
“He’s just ready to fight all the time,” Farriss said. “He’s not scared; he doesn’t back down… the bigger the stage, the better he performs. He brings it out of the other guys as well, and they follow him.”
As Jones has led the offense, linebacker Carson Jones has led the team’s stout defense, a unit that came up big in a tight win in the regional final over Seventy-First, and didn’t allow more than 14 points to any other postseason opponent.
The Knights have watched in recent years as nearby rivals Southern Nash and Rocky Mount have experienced much higher levels of success, but it finally has become their turn.
“It always is about the players,” Farriss said. “They’ve been willing to put in the time and the effort, so it’s really rewarding for me to be a part of it and see it come to fruition for them.”
Now, a very stiff test awaits in the state championship game as undefeated East Lincoln comes out of the West to challenge Northern.
Farriss has noted the outstanding defense the Mustangs will bring to the table and the challenge that unit will present for his high-flying offense.
“They’re long and tall, and they tackle really well,” he said. “They’re in position, so you just know that you’re going to have to block them really well if you want to do anything… you’re going to have to just about be perfect on offense to move the ball against them.”
The Knights are sure to have their work cut out for them against East Lincoln, but the opportunity to add a trophy to the school’s case and earn the program’s first title is one Farriss and his team is not taking for granted.
“I don’t think I could put it into words,” he said when asked what it would mean. “I can’t imagine, especially for all the guys that came before… some of those guys really helped us get over the hump.”
“It’s almost as much for them as it is for the guys who are actually going to be playing,” he added.
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