2016 Snapshot: Northwest

For the third time in the last seven years Northwest will have a new head coach manning the sidelines as Lee Johnson takes over for Nate Mahon. In 2009, Chad Murphy started building a winning foundation at Northwest they went from laughing stocks to playoff darlings in his three years. Mahon followed with two more trips to the postseason including the school’s first-ever playoff win and a 6-4 finish in 2015. It was his third and final year at the helm for the Knights. Johnson’s predecessors have left the program in very good shape.

Northwest RB Devonte Faulkner (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

This is a homecoming of sorts for Johnson. He was the Offensive Coordinator in Murphy’s last two years at Northwest. Johnson took the same position with Murphy at Hamilton. Now he is back to continue what Murphy and Mahon started.

Johnson is familiar with a rock solid core of Knights seniors. They were freshman when Johnson left for Hamilton. “We have speed and a strong run game,” Johnson says. Mix that in with the league’s top passing attack and Northwest will be highly entertaining on offense with eight starters back.

The Knights will need to bear down on defense. This squad isn’t particularly big or deep and only returns three starters. The war must be won in the trenches. It opens up so many opportunities for an athletically skilled back seven despite their being raw. This program has succeeded when the Knights are able to unleash pressure because of the defensive front’s surge.

The formula for success hasn’t changed even though there is a new coach. The train should stil run smoothly. This Northwest squad has the pieces to very formidable and get back to the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years.

Division III, Region 12
2015 RECORD: 6-4, 3-3 SWOC
COACH: Lee Johnson (0-0 at Northwest, first year; 0-0 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Andrew Reenan, Sr, OL – One of the most underrated linemen in Southwest Ohio, Reenan was a Special Mention All-Ohio and First Team All-Southwest District honoree as a junior.

Northwest DL Michael Carter (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Michael Carter, Sr, DL – The high-motored Carter was a First Team All-SWOC selection as a junior. He will be the leader of the defense.

Brandon Shelton Sr, QB – What more could you ask out of your quarterback, Shelton led the SWOC in passing and did not turn the ball over in ’15. That’s zero interceptions and fumbles! He threw for 1,549 yards, ran for 286 more and accounted for 23 touchdowns (19 passing, four rushing) to earn Special Mention All-Southwest District and First Team All-SWOC accolades.

Greg Jackson, Sr, WR/DB – A big play threat, Jackson caught 24 passes for 526 yards, averaged 21.9/yards per reception and scored six touchdowns in ’15. He was named Second Team All-SWOC for his work. Jackson has had at least one reception of 25 yards or more six times in his last seven games.

Devonte Faulkner, Sr, RB – A strong start catapulted Faulkner over the 1,000-yard mark rushing as a junior. He ran for 100 yards or more four times in the first six weeks including a career best 211 yards versus Talawanda. Faulkner finished with 1,021 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns (12 rushing, one receiving) on his way to a Second Team All-SWOC selection.

Samari Thurmond, Sr, DL – Thurmond teams with Carter to give the Knights a dynamite one-two punch on the d-line. He was a Second Team All-SWOC performer as a junior.

OTHER RETURNEES

Northwest RB Ronnell Turner (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Ronnell Turner, Sr, WR/DB – Turner touched the ball 57 times, scored five touchdowns, averaged 8.1 yards per carry and amassed 560 all-purpose yards (244 rushing). He is a huge asset for the Knights.

Matt Courter, Jr, K – Look for Courter to be more consistent with a year under his belt. He went 28-34 on extra point attempts and 1-4 on field goal attempts.

NEWCOMERS
Cesar Neri, So, DL – Speed and technique will be assets for Neri.

Noah Hill, So, OL – Hill will add depth on the offensive line and could wind up starting.

Dae’Mon Cherry, So, WR – Cherry will get opportunities with teams focusing on Jackson, Turner and Faulkner.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(four appearances, 1-4) – 2014, 2013, 2012, 1990

2016 SCHEDULE
Six road games for Northwest including five in a row starting in Week 2. Avoiding fatigue in October is a must with the final foru tilts versus Ross, at Mount Healthy followed by Talawanda and Harrison at home. Division IV Licking Valley (Newark, OH) replaces Division II two-time defending state champ, La Salle.

Northwest QB Brandon Shelton (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

TOUCHDOWN TRIO
Faulkner (12), Shelton (4) and Turner (4) combined for 20 of the teams 25 rushing touchdowns in ’15. The Knights averaged 32.3 points per game for the season.

CLOSING OUT
The Knights lost three of their final four games last season, all by three points. They had fourth quarter leads in two of those games. Northwest also had wins by two and seven points.

BEATEN BY THE BEST
The last 14 losses by Northwest 13 have been to teams that made the playoffs in the year in which the Knights fell to them. The other was to 7-3 Edgewood last fall. Three of those defeats were at the hands of eventual Division II state champions Loveland (2013) and LaSalle (2014 & ‘15).

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