Ragsdale

a good write up in the High Point Enterprise. If they have as much speed on defense as Norwood is saying then I'm feeling better about the season already.


Baker returns to lead powerful Ragsdale


By: Steve Hanf , STAFF SPORTS WRITER 08/23/2004


It starts with Toney Baker, which is bad enough for teams trying to stop the Ragsdale Tigers.
It gets worse for foes, however, when coach Tommy Norwood factors in a rising star at the quarterback position and a faster defense than present on last year's 10-3 team. No amount of distractions surrounding Baker's senior season could take away from the overall talent Ragsdale will put on the field every night, beginning Friday at Southwest Guilford.



"The expectations have always been high here and Toney is so level-headed and the players respect him so much, nobody pays a whole lot of attention to it," Norwood said of the potential side-show atmosphere Ragsdale has managed to avoid. "They've seen recruiters from all over the country. They're used to it."
Just about everyone wants Baker, who rushed for 1,622 yards as a freshman, 2,007 during his sophomore season and 3,411 yards last year. The 5-foot-10, 220-pounder with speed and power also has found the end zone 93 times in his 7,040-yard career.
"Toney does so much for you both on and off the field. He did not miss one day of school last year - he always does what he's supposed to do," Norwood said. "You just can't find many kids who are that caliber a player who are also that caliber a person, and that's what sets him apart."
Baker's good friend, senior fullback Ernest Simmons, returns to the backfield to clear out defenders in Baker's path.

Experienced senior guard Adam Gray anchors an offensive line that will include four new starters this season.
"He's one of the best linemen we've had," Norwood said. "Everything you want in a lineman, you get with Adam Gray."

Seniors Blake Miller and Brad Bowles and juniors Matt Bruner and Griffin Jones will join Gray up front. All have seen playing time despite coming in as first-time starters.
In addition to opening up holes for Baker, the line will be protecting new quarterback Trevor Mullins. The 6-3, 208-pound junior made a name for himself in the spring when he helped lead the Tiger baseball team deep into the playoffs. Mullins went 9-1 while quarterbacking the junior varsity team in the fall.

"I think Trevor Mullins coming out of this year will probably be one of the marquee quarterbacks in North Carolina," Norwood said. "We just need to see how he reacts in a game. I'm a firm believer that sports relate to each other, and the things he's done in baseball - 3-2 count, bases loaded - it's not the same as getting hit in the mouth, but it's still pressure-packed."

Norwood went on to say that comparing last season's passing offense to this year provides "no comparison" because of a large number of injured receivers. This fall, Mullins will be looking for senior returners Cord Cowans and Jake Kensmoe along with junior Ben Vestal, as well as junior tight ends Brandon Phelps and Andrew Christy, and Buster Smith, a sophomore.

When Ragsdale pulls in those tight ends to block, it can really control the tempo of the game and drain the clock. That makes life easier on the defense, which held teams in check for most of last year but returns faster and deeper this time around.

All-conference outside linebacker Marcus Skeen returns for what should be a strong senior season. He'll be joined by junior Anthony Caldwell, dubbed by Norwood as one of the most improved players in the program.
Senior Malcom Robertson returns at inside linebacker, while junior Josh Serrano and senior Terrell Rogers didn't start but played a great deal last year. The secondary is anchored by strong returners in Simeon Platt and Dan MacDonald, both seniors, while junior Thomas Johnson and Kensmoe also will see action.

Up front, Norwood praised a large group of linemen made possible by the huge number of players in the program: 62 on varsity, 130 overall. Jared Thompson, Justin Holloman, Josh Price, Gray and Boles are the seniors in the group, with juniors Brad Cowans, Pedie Byers and Phelps all getting in some licks at opposing running backs and quarterbacks.
"We're fortunate we've got some numbers, and that's a key defensively," Norwood said. "The defensive line has a lot of depth, and this year's defense is a lot faster."

Even the outlook on special teams seems promising with all-conference soccer goalie/football kicker Chris Widman returning for his senior season, while the multi-talented Mullins punts.

Clearly, every point will count as Ragsdale tries to improve upon last year's finish. After an early defeat against Western Guilford, the Tigers rolled until losing to Eastern Randolph late in the regular season (21-20) and again in the third round of the playoffs (27-10).
"Eastern Randolph is still the favorite after being runner-up in the state last year," Norwood said.

 

http://www.ragsdalefootball.com/2004season/home.html

Here is a Ragsdale site run by one of the players parents. Click on the game then pictures to see a few film highlights.

 

You have any word on Eastern Randolph ? Ktown plays them this week.

 

Nice report Wossa...thanks!!!

Is Toney leaning towards any particular school?

Edit: just read your other thread..nevermind

 

Hey Braves - not sure how much you wandered around that website but there are cheerleader pictures there just for you

And Coach I think Kannapolis may be able to take Eastern this week. They wiped out a weak Jordan Matthews team last week but they haven't played that great so far. I think they are working in alot of new linemen. They have good skill players though so they are still dangerous.