The day of the week is likely to matter little this year: Northwestern should do a lot of winning.
Photo by Randy Sartin
When Justin Worley was a senior,
Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) was one of the nation's top teams, bar none. The 6-foot-5 quarterback surgically picked apart opposing defenses as Northwestern captured a state title and finished 15-0.
The 2013 Northwestern squad looks eerily similar to the 2010 team and could have the pieces for another superb season.
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Wide receiver Dupree Hart
Photo by Randy Sartin
In his third year as the team's starting quarterback, Oklahoma State commit
Mason Rudolph should display his mastery of head coach Kyle Richardson's offense. Last season, he threw for a whopping 4,010 yards and 41 touchdowns versus only seven interceptions.
With junior receiver
Dupree Hart and 6-4 senior
Mustafia Love back, Rudolph could improve on those already gaudy numbers.
Cory McCrory, a 6-3 sophomore, could also factor into the team's receiving corps.
Defensively, the team's secondary should be outstanding.
Corey Seargant,
Brayon McCoy and
Jacquavious MacKey all return for the Trojans.
The team's linebackers will also be strong, as senior
Russell Hubbs and junior
Gabe Greshman both return.
Over Northwestern's last three games, the defense allowed on average nearly 30 points, including 31 in an overtime loss to Greenwood in the state finals. The team's quick-strike offense lends itself to high-scoring games. Still, Northwestern's defense needs to improve if it will hold off the likes of Gaffney and Byrnes.
See the entire Northwestern photo galleryLocal look: "I grew up in Rock Hill, S.C., the best little football town/city in America, a distinction that was punctuated once again with this year's NFL Draft and will be again next year when the 2014 Draft arrives."
- Chris Low, ESPN.com
