Turning the Page: Lions Looking to Bounce Back After Playoff Streak Ends

Briarwood coach Mathew Forester with, from left, Luke Shultz, Cooper Higgins, Cole Carter and Andrew Kassouf.

By Rubin E. Grant

Briarwood Christian football coach Matthew Forester is ready to turn the page on last season.

The Lions saw their streak of 29 consecutive trips to the state playoffs end in 2022 as they finished with a losing record.

“We went 3-7 and it was really ugly,” Forester lamented. “It’s not what you want to happen. We’re going to do our best to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

“We talked a lot this summer about what our goal is. Each team is a new team and you can’t hold on to what happened in the past. The idea is trusting not in recent successes, not in trends, but in foundations of what has been built. We want to get back to the level we’re used to playing.”

If Briarwood bounces back this season, they will do it without quarterback Christopher Vizzina, who started for four years and is now at Clemson University. Vizzina passed for 7,220 yards and 59 touchdowns in his career and scored 29 rushing touchdowns.

Forester, however, is looking forward to what the Lions can do this season without the most highly recruited player in school history. 

“I’m excited,” Forester said. “We’re getting to reinvent the offense and do something different. It’s a whole new learning process.”

Briarwood returns only three starters on offense but has nine returning starters on defense. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the 2023 Lions.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

Senior Josh Thompson and junior Will Clark are tasked with filling the void left by Vizzina.

“Both guys will play quarterback,” Forester said. “We feel comfortable with both of them and what we ask them to do. Josh has been with (the team) for three years and knows the offense and is a good runner. Will is a good athlete and he runs well. Will has a big arm, but Josh is more accurate in the intermediate routes and does a good job reading defenses.”

Running Backs

“We want to establish a physical downhill running game,” Forester said.

Senior Cooper Higgins returns to running back after being moved around last year. Junior Gavin Gurtis will join Higgins as a primary ballcarrier.

“They form a two-headed monster,” Forester said. “They’re both downhill, physical runners.”

Sophomores Eli Thompson and Rocco Valentinni add depth.

Receivers

Seniors Sawyer Click and Caleb Keller head a talented group of receivers. Also in the mix are senior Gabe Marlene and juniors John Paul Harbor and Ben McNulty.

“We’re looking for all five of them to do a good job,” Forester said.

The Lions also have three guys who will play tight end, juniors Vaughn Wilson and Chance Freeman and sophomore Dane Whitehead.

“Vaughn is a good blocker and Dane and Chance catch the ball well,” Forester said. “I’m looking forward to see which one of them will start to finish blocks.”

Offensive Line

The Lions return two starters. Senior left tackle Luke Schulz (6-foot-7, 295 pounds) is a three-year starter who has committed to Mercer. Senior Trey Saunders (5-11, 220) will play left guard.

“He started last year,” Forester said of Saunders. “He’s a fireplug, a pulling guard who you love. He’s quick and explosive.”

Seniors Lude Solomon and Charlie Thompson, and sophomore Carter Fountain are battling for the right tackle spot. Senior Cole Carter is expected to start at right guard with juniors Tanner Hutson and Barnabas Karanja battling for the center spot.

“We brought in a new offensive line coach, Tony Johnson, and we have guys on the line who will be moving around,” Forester said. “I’m excited to have some depth on the offensive line.”

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

The Lions will rotate seniors Cace Reynolds and Luke Dickinson and sophomore Garrett Witherington on the defensive line.

“All three of them can play on the edge or the interior,” Forester said.

Seniors Andrew Kassouf and Max Luster and junior Eli Stubbs also will see action on the line.

“We just moved Eli down to the defensive line,” Forester said. “He has a ton of potential. He could be really good.”

Linebackers

Senior Jack Cornish will play middle linebacker. Junior Luke Reynolds will play on the strong side after being moved to linebacker from safety. “He’s going to be a big part of what we do,” Forester said.

Three players are in the mix to receive playing time on the weak side – sophomore Brooks Allred, junior Griffin Albright, senior Luke Livingston. Junior Asa Harris adds more depth. 

Secondary

The cornerbacks will be senior Ethan Carr and senior Grey Reebals, who will play both ways and be the team’s kick returner.

In reserve are junior Patrick Wilson and sophomore Patton Miller.

Four players are in the mix at safety – juniors Rylan Hamm, Wes Burgess and Jon Jobes, and senior Brooks Travis.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Junior Garrett Heinemann will handle the punting and place-kicking chores.

“He has a really strong leg and has had a really good summer,” Forester said.