SEASON OUTLOOK
Northwestern will take on some of the Palmetto State's best teams early on.
Photo by Randy Sartin
A brutal early-season schedule that includes Gaffney and Charlotte Catholic is punctuated by a Sept. 13 showdown with traditional power Byrnes.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
Photo by Randy Sartin
Can the team's defense, especially the defensive line, get the job done against the state's top teams? The offense will almost certainly put points up each week. The defense will need to play its part as well.
Local outlook: Richardson believes that the state rankings will work themselves out in the first month, as Northwestern plays both Gaffney and Byrnes, both of whom should be strong in 2013. In Class AA, Dillon is absolutely loaded, and could probably take out schools much larger than itself.
Overall outlook: Northwestern stands out at South Carolina's top team, at least starting the season. However, it will need to earn that ranking, as it goes up against many of the state's top teams in the early part of its schedule. Regardless, Northwestern will be in the state title mix at the end of the season. If it survives the early part of the season, it will be contending for a high finish nationally as well.
Coach quote: "We threw him in the fire his sophomore year. He struggled early but got better, and last year he just blew it up. And that's where we got to today."
- Head coach Kyle Richardson, to the Oklahoman, on Oklahoma State commit Mason Rudolph
