This year all eyes will be on the Atlee Raiders football program. Half will be looking to see if the 2009 season, which saw Atlee run off to an eye-popping 5-2 start, was a fluke. Others wonder if this is indeed the year that the Raiders make a leap into the Div. 5 playoff race.

  For head coach Roscoe Johnson, it is the latter. “I think if there’s a year for Atlee to break out, this will be the year,” he said.

  The skeptics will point out that the Raiders lost a lot of talent in the graduation of quarterback/DB Dylan Garthright, wide receiver/running back Micah Spiers, linebackers Hunter Brooks and David Ratchford along with five who played on the offensive line.

  But Johnson is not worried about the holes left behind. “I think we have holes but our JV group had better talent in those holes to put in,” he said.

  The team also ended last year with plenty of motivation, after closing out the year 0-3, capped with a 43-21 drubbing by Lee-Davis that kept them out of the playoffs.

  “They’re still upset about that loss in the last game of the season and they’re not happy,” Johnson said. “You can tell it in practice, they’re not happy. They have a chip on their shoulder.

  “It’s almost like a job to them,” Johnson added. “They have something to prove that they belonged in the playoffs last year. We didn’t take of business the way we should have. There’s no woulda, shoulda, coulda. Your season’s here now, prove it to everybody that you belong.” 

OFFENSE

  Though the Raiders lost starting quarterback Garthright there should be no falloff at the position because they return senior Drew Ferguson, who split time in the pocket last season. Ferguson showed physical talent last year and was only hampered by decision making, a factor that Johnson said his quarterback concentrated on for this year. “Drew Ferguson has probably worked harder than any kid we have in this program,” he said. “He realized at the end of the year everything was put on him. In his own mind he knows that he didn’t step up to where he needed to be.”

  Expect a breakout season for Ferguson this year.

  A pair of juniors, Ben Griffith and Ruben Rucker will act as backups in the pocket.

  Ferguson will have no shortage of hands to throw to as Atlee returns most of their receivers. Senior Jordan Underwood is back along with junior Shaquille Williams. Joining them will be juniors Matt Combs, Will McCombs and Griffith. Combs had an outstanding season with the JV squad last year. Also in the mix will be Benedictine transfer, senior RJ Price. “The skies the limit for the receiving corp,” Johnson said.

  The speedy and elusive Tevor Elie will remain a constant threat in the backfield. “He’s a senior and he gets better and better each year,” Johnson said.

  Backing up Elie will be junior Jarred Hall, who has equally impressed his coach. “Something happens to Trevor, Jarred can go right in and we wouldn’t skip a beat,” he said.

  Center Kyle Wilheman is gone from the offensive line, but his replacement senior Ricky Baughan saw time in the position last year. Juniors Cole Stout and Jacob Cooper both saw time at the guard position last year while senior Ryan Miller is back at left tackle. Right tackle will be occupied by junior Josh Johnson, a transfer from Lee-Davis.

DEFENSE

  Senior linebacker Josh Doggett has been the face of the Atlee defense for the past three years. But even though he is bigger and quicker this may be the first season he does not lead the team in tackles. “He understands now he’s got a nucleus of a team and it’s not just him, where before we had to depend a lot on him,” Johnson said.

  Brooks and Ratchford were impressive last season, but Johnson expects even bigger things from his newcomers including a breakout season for junior Cole Woody. Senior Kamron White is expected to take the other linebacker position. Backing them up will be seniors Conner Hall and Joseph Weggen along with juniors Preston Armstrong Jonathan Baughan. “All of these were guys that were on JV that were just really good,” Johnson said.

  Senior Michael Bazemore and Stout return to the defensive line. They will be joined by newcomers sophomore Reid Ramey along with juniors Jeremy Epps and Josh Spears.

  “I think our defensive line will be our strength this year because not only are they big and strong but they’re fast,” Johnson said.

  The secondary is the one area of concern for the Raiders, not due to talent but inexperience. Junior Austin Sutherland has impressed the coaches at the DB slot. “He’s faster than the DBs we had last year,” Johnson said. “He’s more mobile. He’s got more athletic ability.”

  Senior Cody Farrar, who improved strength and speed, returns at strong safety and Price should take the free safety position. Seniors Matt Crotts and Chop Pulisic both logged time in the secondary last year. Junior Taylor Curran will also be in the mix.

SPECIAL TEAMS

  For the first time since the graduation of Matt Pennington, Atlee has a kicker that could prove to be a team leader in points. Junior Joseph “Little” Pulisic has already awed Johnson with his leg and poise. “He’s going to be a good one,” the coach said. “He’s an athlete who kicks. He loves the pressure. He wants the pressure. He says ‘I’m the guy who will take us to where we need to be’. He’s not being conceited but he’s just saying trust me, trust in him.”

  Not only does Pulisic by accurate on PATs and field goals, he regularly sends kickoffs into the end zone.

  Williams and Woody will take care of punting duties.