As he begins his second season as Pope John Paul II High’s head coach, Justin Geisinger hopes his Knights are looking at better days.
Senior Pace Dempsey (left) returns at wide receiver after catching 49 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns last season.
After last season’s 2-9 campaign – which saw the program’s losing streak in region games reach 21 – PJP II brings back a wealth of experience in players who went through those growing pains.
“We’re expecting to make big strides this year,” Geisinger said. “Obviously, that didn’t show in our record last year, but in time, it will.”
Geisinger is leaning on a group of seniors – some of which have played since their freshman year – to help develop younger players as well as improve in Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region play in the final season of the current format.
“The way I look at it, experience is great,” Geisinger said. “You’ve got a core group of seniors, and some of them have played since freshman year. But we’re looking at it as it’s the second year in our program in developing the kids and having them do things the right way.”
The Knights are in their third season with more of a spread offense, but changes are coming on the defensive side with the move to a 4-3 defense from a 3-4 scheme last year.
“In high school football, I think any football coach will tell you that you can’t play to a system,” Geisinger said. “You have to play to your personnel. We feel like we have the personnel to fit the things we’re doing.”
Personnel
A younger offensive line will line up for the Knights. One of the team’s key losses was tackle Nick Nixon, who signed with Samford University.
Junior Ed Agholor is expected to start at left tackle, while classmate Jake Motz handles duties at right tackle. Senior Nicholas Scott is slated to be the starting right guard, with senior Coby Neal at left guard. Senior Justin Humphries is the likely starter at center.
“We’ll be younger (on the offensive line),” Geisinger said. “It’s less experienced, but promising.”
Senior Zach Scott and sophomore Chase Petty will line up in the Knights’ hybrid tight end/fullback position in bigger offensive sets.
Ben Brooks returns at quarterback for his senior season after throwing for 1,831 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, as well as 346 yards and five scores on the ground.
“He’s played games since his freshman year,” Geisinger said. “He’s been in this offense for two years, so he can really take a grasp of the guys and control the huddle.”
Senior Jamaal Thompson is slotted in as the starting tailback, after averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 41 carries last season.
“He’s a kid who got some carries last year,” Geisinger said of Thompson. “He should probably have gotten more carries last year. He’s got good vision.”
Four seniors – Pace Dempsey, C.J. Laws, Jalon Cambridge and Chris Bell – could all start at wide receiver, with junior Nick Zanger and sophomore Nicholas Pracht providing depth.
Senior Jamaal Thompson figures to be a bigger part of the Knights’ offense this season.
Dempsey caught 49 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns, while Laws (36 receptions, 441 yards) also caught four passes for scores. Cambridge had 34 receptions for 372 yards, giving the Knights three main targets who each averaged more than 10 yards per catch.
Bell – a 6-foot-4, 210-pound target – returns to the Knights this season after transferring to East Nashville after his sophomore year.
“He’s a weapon with that size, so we’ll try to move him around and use him a little bit,” Geisinger said.
Bell is also expected to start at safety, along with one of Laws, Pracht or junior Gordon Carroll. Cambridge (five interceptions last season) and Thompson are expected to occupy the cornerback positions.
“We have more than four guys (who can play) back there (in the secondary),” Geisinger said. “That’s a good problem to have.”
Nicholas Scott, senior Cody Moyer and junior Daniel Leonard are in the mix at defensive tackle in the new 4-3 defense, while seniors Jack Schumacher and Lucas Huff will play at defensive end.
Senior Drew Bledsoe is the Knights’ leading returning tackler (38 solo, 10 assists) at linebacker, with Neal and Zach Scott also competing for linebacker spots. Senior Cameron Scott returns at linebacker after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last season.
Zanger is expected to handle kickoffs and placekicks this season, replacing Jackson Morris, who is with the University of Tennessee as a walk-on kicker.
“That’s a big weapon (to replace),” Geisinger said. “Obviously, Jackson could put us in range for three points from all over the field and put kickoffs in the end zone. In our league, there’s a lot of dangerous return guys.”
Dempsey is handling punting duties for the Knights, and could also serve as a kick returner along with Bell, Laws, Cambridge or Thompson.
Outlook
Having not won a region game since a 2012 victory at Father Ryan leaves the Knights eager to get out of the cellar in Division II-Class AA’s East/Middle Region.
Pope John Paul II High quarterback Ben Brooks returns for his senior season, while Justin Geisinger begins his second season as the Knights’ head coach.
But before region play begins, the Knights will make a long road trip to Memphis to begin the season at Melrose.
“Our region schedule is what it is,” Geisinger said. “Every week, it’s going to be a challenge. And our non-region play is not easy, we know that. We’re on the back end of a two-year contract with Melrose, so we go down (to Memphis) this year.”
PJP II draws Brentwood Academy (Sept. 2), Montgomery Bell Academy (Sept. 30) and McCallie (Oct. 21) at home in region play this season.
The Knights travel to Father Ryan (Sept. 9), Ensworth (Sept. 16) and Baylor (Oct. 14) for region contests.
“In order to give ourselves a chance, we can’t make a lot of mistakes, because we’ll be playing a lot of talent,” Geisinger said. “We expect that, and I think our kids are starting to figure that out.”
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.
POPE JOHN PAUL II (2-9)
27…vs. Melrose…48
34…at Coffee County…21
7…at Brentwood Academy…49
22…vs. Father Ryan…30
35…vs. Ensworth…52
30…vs. Nashville Christian…13
14…at MBA…56
21…vs. Baylor…42
28…vs. McCallie…63
14…vs. South Warren (KY)…36
Division II-Class AA Playoffs
21…at McCallie…54
2016 SCHEDULE
August
Aug. 19 at Melrose – 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 Coffee County – 7 p.m.
September
*Sept. 2 at Brentwood Academy – 7 p.m.
*Sept. 9 at Father Ryan – 7 p.m.
*Sept. 16 at Ensworth – 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Nashville Christian – 7 p.m.
*Sept. 30 Montgomery Bell Academy – 7 p.m.
October
*Oct. 14 at Baylor – 7 p.m. (Eastern)
*Oct. 21 McCallie – 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 South Warren (Ky.) – 7 p.m.
* – denotes Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region game