Perhaps Glen Fry of the Eagles said it best when speaking of great expectations: everybody’s watching you. The Norcross Blue Devils had a 22-3 record over the last two seasons and Coach Keith Maloof’s 2008 team had the players back to make a long run in the state playoffs. Last season’s leading rusher DJ Adams returned from a 1,400 yard season and seemed poised to go for 2000 his senior year before heading off to become a Maryland Terrapin. His standout WR/DB Prince Kent had a Miami scholarship in his pocket and looked to shine now out of the shadow of last season’s wide receivers. However in the team’s opening game in the Kell Powerade Classic, the Blue Devils couldn’t find the endzone against Camden County. “The game proved we’ve got inexperience in some places, but [the team] did a reasonable job,” said Coach Maloof about his team’s performance in their first appearance in the Georgia Dome. “A few key people were injured in the second half, but it was 14-6 until the last thirty seconds,” said Maloof of the game. “Hopefully you learned from the game.”
His offense reached the redzone several times in the game but never found paydirt, something Maloof called, “disappointing.” The team and players worked hard and the next week against South Gwinnett, the Blue Devils were 4-4 in walking away with points once reaching the redzone. “They learn from each instance,” said Maloof. The team still struggled a bit with an overmatched South Gwinnett team though and the Blue Devils worked during the off-week after the Comet game. “We spent it fixing what needed to be fixed then we started working on Mill Creek.” Assistant coach Corey Richardson said that the coaches worked on “trying to bring the team together.” “We had breakdowns, but this off-week we were able to regroup.” Richardson said he focused on technique with the defensive line and noted that the entire team is going to work and will get better every week. Maloof would go on to say that the Mill Creek game between two 2007 playoff teams would be won by the team that didn’t make mistakes.
This season the Blue Devils have much on the line. The team was tabbed by many to be in the hunt for a state title and they are expected to put past playoff trouble behind them. “The kids have worked hard and the community has really come on behind us,” said Maloof. “The kids realize more is at stake and there is more to be had.” Last season the Blue Devils were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by Grayson, and that may have been the best thing for this year’s team. “We have something to build off of and these seniors have unfinished business.” Two of those seniors Prince Kent and DJ Adams are leaders of this team according to Maloof and they must be leaders. “The scholarships, that’s gravy what they’re doing, but their primary goal is to get the team into the playoffs. The young kids look up to them and to really all of the seniors.” Richardson noted that he is excited about the potential of this team and Maloof didn’t temper those thoughts. “Expectations are high and we expect to be there at the end.” This season started in the Georgia Dome and if the team hopes to end it there, the early season kinks will have to be worked out. With senior leadership, and if several key players stay injury-free, there is no reason to think Norcross won’t exceed expectations.
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