Football Season Preview: Dunwoody Looks to Extend Winning Ways

Psychologically, it might help Dunwoody High football players to consider this season a continuation of last year's.

After last season's 0-3 start, the Wildcats (6-4) won six of their final seven games and finished on a four-game win streak. That's momentum any team would love to continue this season.

"I honestly felt at the end of the year we were playing as well as anybody in the state," coach Jim Showfety said. "I felt we would have done well in the playoffs. Our offense was clicking, and our defense was extremely solid. We could have made a run (in the playoffs) if given the opportunity."

That 0-3 start put the Region 6-AAAA Wildcats too far behind to recover last season and landed them fifth in region, just behind its four state playoff qualifiers. That's something the Wildcats hope to avoid when this season begins Friday against region counterpart Mays at North DeKalb Stadium.

"We didn't have anyone to blame but ourselves," Showfety said of not winning last season until beating Lithonia in Week 4. "That slow start really came back to haunt us."

The Wildcats are confident approaching Friday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff, despite graduating six players on offense and defense. Key to that confidence are Dunwoody's seniors, who signaled months ago their desire to take charge.

"We've got much stronger overall senior leadership this year," Showfety said. "We had a lot of athletes in last year's senior class, but struggled in terms of leadership.

"This group (of seniors) came to me right after last season and let it be known they wanted to take control of this team," the Wildcats' second-year coach explained. "It makes your job a lot easier as a head coach to have a senior class that wants to do that."

Senior free safety Nick Willis, who started the second half of last season, returns as the defense's most experienced player. Alongside will be senior linebacker Jake Hudgins, the defense's signal caller. Seniors TeMyrick Mosley and Connor Weaver return having started all 10 games last season.

University of Tennessee-bound linebacker Justin King, who took over at quarterback in Week 3 last season, is expected to play primarily on defense, but also some in an offensive backfield lacking any returners. In addition to 24 tackles last year, King ran for 413 yards and three touchdowns last fall.

Showfety said King might play some quarterback, too, though talent already is plentiful there with sophomore Joseph Farrar and junior Ryan Gaines.

"I feel very good about our situation at quarterback," Showfety said. "We've got three very solid kids back there."

Look for senior tackles Eliot Arno (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) and Darien Foreman (6-4, 280) to anchor the offensive line. They both started every game last season. Foreman, down from 315 pounds, is expected to play defensive tackle, too.

Showfety said he's been impressed with his players' invigorated preseason.

"The one thing we've emphasized is tempo," the coach explained. "We've emphasized the importance of practicing and doing everything at a high tempo, and for the most part, the kids have responded.

"To get off to good start, we have to maintain a high tempo in everything we do."

All of Dunwoody's games count in region, so unlike teams whose initial outings don't, here's no "easing" into things for the Wildcats.

"It's important to get off to good start when every game counts," Showfety said. "We realize how important that first game is. It's a marathon, not a sprint."