As the Evans Knights step onto the gridiron this year, they have a sense of anticipation and excitement for the 2024 campaign.
In coach Barrett Davis’ fourth season, Evans is loaded with talent, but the team knows that it has to put in the work to get to where it wants to be.
Evans finished fourth in Region 2-AAAAAA last season, just squeaking into the playoffs with a 4-6 regular season record and 3-3 mark in region play. And as a result of the Georgia High School Association’s latest realignment, Evans’ new Region 1-AAAAA setup will include new challenges against teams such as Bradwell Institute, Greenbrier, and Statesboro. With nine teams in the region, the Knights only got two preseason scrimmages and two non-region games before they begin region play at Lakeside on Sept. 6.
Season opener
One of those non-region contests is Friday’s season opener with powerhouse Thomson.
“We’ve got to get ready quicker,” said Davis. “With region play starting so early, we’re trying to speed up that process and get ready quicker because September 2, we’re already [preparing for] region play.”
Goals for this season
When you have nine teams fighting for four playoff spots, every game matters. One of the Knights’ biggest goals in 2024 is to compete for a region championship. It’s doable, but in order to do it, they have to complete their other sub-goals, which are to win all of their home games and their in-county rivalry games.
The Knights learned some tough lessons in 2023 by way of some close losses. Evans started the season dropping a one-score decision to North Augusta. Two weeks later, after being tied with Burke County at halftime, it lost by two scores late in the game.
Then there was an eight-point loss to region foe Glynn Academy down the regular season stretch. And Evans was competitive with Class AAAAAA runner-up Woodward Academy before losing 31-14 in the first round of the playoffs.
All that came despite having to play a bit of quarterback by committee due to injuries and other factors. This year, with some new faces and a new region, Davis knows his bunch is ready to capitalize on those lessons learned.
“They know what it takes, now, and they know that they’ve got to work hard in the weight room,” Davis. “It takes all of the little things to add up to the goals in the bigger picture.”
Offensive key players this season
The Knights’ offense will have to find someone to replace their leading rusher from last year, Rayshaun King, who averaged over 100 yards per game and was sixth in the state in rushing yards.
That’ll start with their senior quarterback EJ Hogan, who was the second leading rusher on the team last season. The offense does return seven starters, including a brick wall of an offensive line headlined by Georgia Bulldogs commit Mason Short.
Hogan knows he’ll have to tote the rock some for this team, and he has the talent to do so. Beyond his athleticism, Evans’ signal caller has high aspirations and confidence for this team’s success.
“We’re very excited for this season, and can’t wait to get on the field,” said Hogan. “We want to have a better season than we did last year. We want at least to make it to the second or third round [of the playoffs]. Obviously, we are aiming for bigger, but once you get to that point, everything has to be in your favor.”
The Knights also added three-star Kent State commit in wide receiver Buddyrow Garrer. Garrer comes over from Aquinas after 2023 season that proved him to be one of the top pass catchers in the CSRA. Garrer led his team in receiving last year averaging 90 yards per game. He also plays cornerback on defense and had an interception last year.
Defensive key players this season
On defense, Evans will be reloading this year as it only return four starters in Jack Herrington, Bryson Crewe, Jeremy Howard and Allen Morris
But just as Davis has preached in each of his three prior seasons at Evans, the Knights keys to success comes down to playing solid defense. In games that they won last year, they only allowed 15.5 points per game, but in losses they nearly doubled that, surrendering 29 points per game.
Davis believes Evans, as a team, has the chemistry and talent to do big things. But now is the time to go prove it.
“We want to see growth every week from Week One to Week 10,” he said. “I think we need to win at least five or six games to even get in the playoffs. We have to understand that one game doesn’t define us, but we’ve got to win the big ones.”
