We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Creekside football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 11-3
- Points Scored: 461
- Points Against: 198
Key Losses
The Seminoles will miss their offensive heartbeat as Nyqua Lett departs Creekside for Alabama State. In his last season as the Seminoles’ quarterback, Lett threw for 2,154 yards and 24 touchdowns, and rushed for 665 yards and eight TDs on 108 carries.
One of Lett’s primary targets at receiver, Derrick White, also graduated and takes his pass-catching abilities to Arkansas Pine-Bluff. White had 935 career receiving yards and 11 TDs while at Creekside. He also returned a kickoff 70 yards for a TD, showing off the blazing speed that attracted Lions recruiters to White.
Safety Dainsus Miller will not return, as the talented DB signed with Marshall. In his final season as a Creekside Seminole, Miller had 51 tackles, an interception and a blocked punt. Two other defensive leaders who will be missed are LB Vincent Hill (Tuskeegee Unuversity) and DL Kacey Bolton (Benedict College), who finished with 131 tackles and 10 sacks in his final two seasons at Creekside.
Who’s Back
The head coach of the Seminoles, Maurice Dixon, says that while the impact of losing a great quarterback like Lett hurts, the good news is that the Creekside offense will be in good hands with junior Vinson Berry coming in by way of transfer. Berry previously was the QB at Luella, and as just a junior, he’ll be able to lead the Seminole offense in 2022 and 2023. Last season, he threw for 1,892 yards and 15 TDs.
Berry will have returning receivers Josh Vigne, Shane Kelly, Josiah Cottrell, Lorenzo York, and Krishon Lett to get the ball to this season. Three-star ATH Rod McCrary will be back, and Dixon told ITG Next that the junior is expected to fill a lot of roles this season.
“Heading into the offseason, we all knew that Rod would take over at running back, while still playing a lot on defense, so we’ve been pushing him in the weight room … so that his body can get used to 100-plus plays per game this season,” Dixon said.
Others returning include senior DT Malik Willis, who has committed to Eastern Michigan, and senior OL BJ Williams, who at 6 feet, 4 inches tall, will play some tackle and guard. His O-line mates include returning junior Caleb Holmes, a four-star OL who was a Max Preps Second Team All-American last year as a sophomore; and junior OL Bam Williams, who will play center and left guard, and is already receiving college offers.
The defense should be in good shape with the return of senior OLB Javeon “The Boogeyman” Miller, an All-State performer who has 102 tackles, including 25 TFL and a stunning 22 sacks, to his credit. Senior CB Daiquab White returns to shut down opposing passing games. He had 89 tackles with two interceptions last season, including a pick-six.
What To Expect
The Seminoles have a ton of talent returning this season, including the experience on the O-line. That unit will give new transfer QB Vinson Berry time to throw the football, and McCrary and his fellow receivers room to roam. The defense has a lot of playmakers back, especially in the defensive backfield, so look for this Creekside group to be pretty well balanced on both sides.
This will be Dixon’s sixth season since taking over at Creekside in 2017, and he has brought the program a long way from the days of 0-10 in year one. Dixon says his team must work harder to “get over that hump” of their season ending in the semifinals. “We need to experience winning a state championship, not getting close. We need to win the thing,” he said.
Prediction
12 wins should make a great season for the Seminoles.
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