War Eagles hopes experience last year translates into something special this year

Although their string of six consecutive region titles was snapped last year, Landmark Christian head coach Kenny Dallas stated that he was as proud of last year’s team as any as he coached. Not only did the War Eagles have to contend with a number of injuries, but the team only had five starting seniors on the squad.

Had two close region contests with Whitefield Academy and Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy gone the other way, there might be talk of Landmark shooting for their eighth straight region crown. As it stands, last year’s inexperience in some positions translates to a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball this year.

“We dealt with a lot of injuries last year and as a result we played a lot of kids,” Dallas stated.

Landmark Christian has 11 seniors who will play a lot this year and the strengths will be the offensive and defensive lines. The War Eagles return all four starters to the defensive line and two members, Nate Carry and Josh Gebhardt have been recognized as pre-season all state selections. Dallas knows that both players are special but really likes the other two players in the front four as well.

“In addition to Carry and Gebhardt, we have Cody Nichols and Philip Garza and all four are just incredible,” said Dallas, who commented that the size of the offensive and defensive line is the best he has had in his career as a high school football coach. The team also has the benefit of having an entirely different offensive and defensive line, a luxury few teams have, especially in Class A ball.

The linebackers for Landmark are young but the War Eagles have a good system in place and have developed some all-state and college level talent at that position in the past. Austin Broussard is the team’s middle linebacker while Chase McFarland, Casssius Price and Evan Gladney will play outside linebacker for the team.

The War Eagle secondary is where the team had to replace a lot of players, but Dallas thinks they have a lot of potential as well. Senior Blake Austin, who has committed to attend Auburn on a baseball scholarship, is a safety, along with Gabe Cobb, while Seth Wessinger and Donald Payne will play cornerback.
Junior Carson Barnett will play quarterback for Landmark and early season injuries to Tanner Bryant last year gave Barnett some experience as a starter last year.

“Carson is a pure pocket passer,” said Dallas, adding that he and some of the other coaches think he looks like former Landmark quarterback Alex Mortensen. “He is playing fantastic.”
Barnett will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including his twin brother, Zach, who will play tight end for the War Eagles. Other receivers for Landmark will be returning starters Robert Trotter and Wade Kemp. The team is also hoping sophomore Cantrell Frazier can return this season from a knee injury.
Four defensive players, Broussard, Austin, Gebhardt and Cobb, will each play some at running back and Dallas is pleased that though they each have distinctive styles, there is no sizable drop off in production.

Ryan Thames, a junior, returns to handle place kicking and kickoff duties for the War Eagles, while Carson Barnett will be the team’s punter.

Landmark has a tremendous schedule. Not only do they open the season at sixth ranked Brookstone and follow it with a game against the always tough Warren County Red Devils, but the region schedule pits them against a number of tough teams including Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, Whitefield Academy and Holy Innocents.

“It’s a strong region and we love it,” said Dallas. “We train year round and are prepared.”