Gwinnett Daily Post

Berkmar Patriots 2011 Preview

Mascot: Patriots Coach: Jonathan Sanks (3-7 at Berkmar, 11-20 overall) Region: 8-AAAAA Last playoff appearance: 2005

Offense

Need an idea of the status of Berkmar football? Look no further than the grades listed next to each player on the roster.

Of the nearly 90 players listed, one third are freshmen. Only 15 seniors are on the list.

"This year it will be probably a little more challenging than last year," head coach Jonathan Sanks said. "We are definitely in a rebuilding phase, but we are worried about right now, right now."

Coming off a 3-7 season in his first year with the Patriots, Sanks sees potential in his second year but also knows the team is mostly inexperienced. Of the 22 potential starters, eight return from last year and five are sophomores or freshmen.

"A lot of them don't have a lot of varsity experience and a lot of them don't have football experience. Hopefully we can get them in the system and train them up, but right now it's going to be a fight every week," Sanks said. "Every game in our region is a fight and now it's going to be a gun fight, but we got a knife. Hopefully we can throw our knife and hit them while they are not looking."

If there is a player to rely on for the Patriots' offense it's starting quarterback Deion Perry (pictured).

Inserted as starter during the season, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior threw for 1,355 yards and 17 touchdowns. But he'll be without departed receivers Justyn Shackelford and Duchein Williams.

"He played really solid last year," Sanks said. "We may not be throwing the deep ball, we may do some other things. Deion, he knows the offense really well. We are going to have to ride his back."

The problem is, the offensive line is so young, Perry may find himself on his back. Three sophomores and two juniors fill out the Patriots up front, including 6-foot-2, 350-pound Derrick Wingate at guard and Dar-Shaughn Lee-Green, a 6-4, 285-pound sophomore, playing one of the tackles.

"We don't have a kid on the offensive line over 15. They are big, but they aren't ready yet. We are trying to build a foundation with these guys moving forward," Sanks said. "There is a lot of teaching going on. There is a difference between coaching and teaching."

Senior Michael Shaw will begin the season at running back after rushing for 225 yards in seven games last season.

"He'll be a big part of our offense," Sanks said.

Defense

Berkmar matches its youth on offense with equal parts on defense.

Of the four returning starters, all seniors, one plays on the defensive line, one at linebacker and two defensive backs. The Patriots plan to start one freshman and one sophomore on defense.

"Our secondary is the only experience we have and we are going to rely on those guys," Sanks said of Roger Seton and Mikel Sessions. "We are going to be fundamental. That doesn't mean we are going to stop anybody."

Sessions had 31 tackles last season for the Patriots, well down the list of last year's leaders, all departed.

"They are smaller guys, but they are really physical," Sanks said of his defensive backs. "I am looking forward to the season.

"We are going to try to win in different ways. Sometimes the scoreboard doesn't dictate winning when you have a young team."

Youth doesn't last

Even in his first season, Sanks noticed his roster lacked a strong "middle group," the large sophomore and junior classes that grow into the coming season's players. He has plenty of those numbers this season, brightening his outlook for future seasons.

"Eventually the puppies end up being dogs," he said. "We are going to go out there and play hard and see what happens."

-Ben Beitzel

Berkmar roster

1 Devin Johnson RB 12

2 Deion Perry QB 12

3 Mikel Sessions DB 12

4 Rashad Hall DB 11

5 Dorren Miller WR 11

6 Jaden Le LB 11

7 Karl Llewellyn LB/RB 12

8 Byceson Powers DB 9

9 Malachi Hargrave RB 11

10 Shakeem Powell WR 12

11 Jaquan Morris QB 10

12 Kevin Grier DB 9

13 Robert Dorely DB 9

14 Mason Brown LB 10

15 R.J. Predeoux LB 11

16 David Koloko K 11

17 Kamron Luke WR 12

18 Kyle Pattilo WR 12

20 Michael Shaw RB 12

21 Aaren Green DB 11

22 Johnathan Williams DB 9

23 Bryan Hunter RB 10

24 Roger Seton DB 12

25 Devione Beasly DB 10

26 Jamaal Wise LB 9

27 Macualay Baker DB 11

28 Corey Moore WR 9

29 Samuel Olusanya RB 11

31 Bryan Cardenas DL 11

32 Denzel Burney DL 11

33 Kenyuan Riddle RB 9

34 Ladarious Fisher DB 10

35 Tuhreaq Dunston RB 9

37 Mark Lopez K 9

38 Issac Flunetes DB 9

39 Alessandro Araujo RB 9

40 Javier Gnitterez LB 9

41 Trenton Barnes DL 9

42 Randy Griffin LB 9

43 Alonzo Guillaume DL 9

44 Ivan Bessah DL 11

45 Tyler Summerour DL 12

46 Bryan Contreras LB 9

47 Anthony Valientine LB 9

48 Jeree Jackson OL 9

49 Shaquille Smith DE 9

51 Rommel Dubuisson OL 10

52 Quinton Isler DL 12

53 Jose Acosta OL 9

54 Carlos Hernandez LB 11

55 Natori Burney DL 10

56 Dante Chatman OL 9

57 Cameron Watson DL 10

58 Tyrone D. Howard LB 10

59 Hakeem Swindle DL 10

60 Jose Hernandez OL 10

62 Aveere Gile DL 10

65 Chris Trumpler OL/DL 11

66 Jarrod Rhoden OL 9

67 Kwontavius Owens OL 10

68 Dar-Shaughn Lee-Green OL 10

69 Ishmael Toeldo OL 9

70 Jibril Ghee OL 9

71 Derrick Wingate DL/OL 10

72 Ted Lauder OL 10

73 Dominique Overton OL 9

75 Dewayne Dermus DL 12

77 Jan Gonales DL 11

80 Cameron Anderson WR 9

81 Dimetrious Wright WR 9

84 Marcus Reynolds DL 12

85 Jeimy Castillo WR 9

86 Patrick Underwood WR 11

88 Ladarious Mitchell WR 10

89 Braneon Underwood WR 9