Jacksonville standout running back Amari Pearson didn\u2019t hold back when asked what motivates the Cardinals this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are always the underdogs,\u201d the senior said. \u201cThey always count us out just like they did in the last two years because we lost a lot of players. But we always come out good, and I expect good things here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cardinals graduated 26 seniors from last year\u2019s squad that went 12-1 overall, 5-0 in the Big Carolina Conference and advanced to the NCHSAA 6-A East Regional final \u2014 Jacksonville\u2019s second consecutive state semifinal appearance.<\/p>\n
Those graduations include quarterback, two 600-yard running backs and 10 of the team\u2019s top 10 tacklers. The Cardinals, however, will not fret.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt only gives us more drive to prove everyone wrong,\u201d senior linebacker Zach Patterson said. \u201cWe are still going to play our game and play to the best of our ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like 17th year coach Beau Williams stresses, the program is built around the \u201cnext man up\u201d mentality.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a bunch of them, it\u2019s their turn to play, and we will see what they\u2019re going to do,\u201d he said. \u201cThey know what the expectations are, they saw what everyone else went through and they want to continue the progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mindset has paid off as the Cardinals have recorded 11 straight winning seasons. Jacksonville is 126-67 since Williams took over as coach before the 2011 season.<\/p>\n
One of those defeats, however, was last year\u2019s 31-21 home loss to Middle Creek in the regional final.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were one step away from the state final … and that\u2019s not a very good feeling,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping that motivates them like it did for the group last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Jacksonville looks to rebuild in several areas, the Cardinals still feature plenty of talent.<\/p>\n
The defense features senior Sammie Rogers and junior Domonic Williams in the secondary, seniors Judah Bloomfield and Demarri June and junior Kenneth Jones on the line and Patterson.<\/p>\n
Williams is being recruited by several Division I programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will rise to our potential and best the best we can be,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cEven without the seniors who graduated, we are still going to push. We had a great season last year, and we are motivated to come back and try harder this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pearson returns after he rushed for 1,935 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. He averaged 11.2 yards per carry. He will be complemented in the backfield by White Oak transfer Montez Jimenez (1,196 yards, 7 touchdowns) and junior CJ Jordan.<\/p>\n
Senior SaRonn Thompson (32 catches, 632 yards, 7 TD) also provides big-play capabilities while senior Tanner Jones spearheads the offensive line. Senior athlete Josiah Benton looks to play a larger offensive role while he also returns as the punter while senior Brody Weston returns as kicker.<\/p>\n
Thompson and Pearson were first-team all-area players last year. Jones and Williams were second-team along with Benton at punter. Rogers was third team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe offensive line could be a strength,\u201d Williams said. \u201cBut we will find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s just one of the questions the Cardinals look to answer if they are to compete for another conference title after they shared it in 2024 and won its first outright league crown since 1990 last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of unknowns right now,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWe have a lot of good athletes, but we are not as deep as we\u2019ve been. So, we have to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n