Monday, July 28, 2008

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 46 Independence

46. Independence (Charlotte, N.C.)
Last season’s record: 13-3, Class 4AA runner-up
Coach: Tom Knotts
Key players: QB Anthony Carrothers (5-8, 160, Jr.), DT Kortne Briggs (6-1, 270, Sr.), RB Taylor Caldwell (6-0, 200, Sr.), WR Michael Rhynes (6-2, 170, Sr.), OC Ryan Thompson (5-11, 185, Jr.)
Biggest strength: Athleticism, coaching
Question mark: Inexperience
Outlook: Several impressive streaks come to an end for the Patriots last season. Not only was their 109-game winning streak snapped by Cincinnati Elder at the Kirk Herbstreit Classic, the Patriots’ run of seven consecutive state championships and 39 straight playoff wins also fell off the board. But it’s still way too early to write off the future fortunes of Independence football, which is 106-4 in seven seasons under Knotts. The high-octane offense that produced three Division I quarterbacks this decade will be led again by Carrothers, who started as a sophomore and performed well throwing for 346 yards and two touchdowns against Elder, only his second-ever start. Look for Caldwell to have a big year running the ball after ranking among the team leaders in tackles and sacks playing linebacker last season. Only three starters are back on defense but it includes Briggs, a run-plugging tackle who can bench press 405 pounds.
Toughest games: Sept. 6 at Madison County (Fla.), Sept. 12 at West Charlotte, Nov. 7 at Butler

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

indy is a has been. Madison will show them that, that little streak is worth nothing to a florida big boy.

Anonymous said...

haha i pity you. so much disrespect for one of the most incredible dynasties in the past 20 years. i guess everyone will find out how AWESOME madison county is.

Anonymous said...

Byrnes (SC) and Independence have scrimmaged each other since 2004 and it's one of the top scrimmage games in the southeast. Last year, Byrnes and Independence scrimmaged for entire 4 quarters with the first team going the entire way. Byrnes won 41-38. By the way, Independence won the scrimmage, Byrnes won (really handled them) in 2005, and Independence won the scrimmage in 2006.

BrotherJR

Anonymous said...

Meant to say that Independence won the scrimmage in 2004 and 2006 with Byrnes winning the scrimmages in 2005 and 2007.

BrotherJR

Anonymous said...

Its not incredible. I think when they went to ohio and lost to elder we all found out just how good they were. Heck at least DLS ended its streak with a loss to a team that ended up winning a state title. Take that same indy team, field the same exact teams they had in the streak. Set them in Florida, Texas, Ohio, Penn, Cali. You wont have a winning streak that last longer then 4 years at max.

Madison County one of the best Small Schools in the country. Its hard for a Florida Power House to win in Boot Hill. What makes you think indy can.


See DLS lost in its first REAL state game. Hey had great outstading teams, but one can question if it would have happened had they had REAL State games like they have now.

Anonymous said...

4 years? They wouldn't have lasted two in those states.

The difference in dynasties between Indy and DLS is like comparing Mt. Union to USC.

Anonymous said...

indy lost 3 times last year.

Anonymous said...

The Indy teams have regressed since 2004 and are only a shell of the 2001-2004 squads. The 2004 team was as good as I have seen and I have seen many nationally ranked teams in person (including South Lake Carroll and Joliet Catholic that season).

Last season Indy lost three games and won five by two tds or less. Not very dominating to say the least. Big contributing factors: Indy lost its D1A tight end (Mario Carter 6'4" 235 NC State) for the season the day before the Byrnes scrimmage and a D1A db (Makiri Pugh 6'1" 205 Georgia) the first series of the scrimmage. He returned about five weeks into the season but was never 100% with a foot injury.

Will be tough to replace top national recruit Devonte Holloman, now at Rock Hill South Pointe. True super talent! Will be very thin on both lines.

Byrnes beat Indy 24-14 in a one half scrimmage in 2005 with the final play an Indy first down on the Byrnes 26. Indy was replacing 19 graduated senior starters. I was surprised at how well Indy stuck with them considering Byrnes fielded its best squad ever that year (which mayprove inferior to this year's edition). Last year Indy fumbled on the Byrnes 16 after gaining a first down with four minutes to play. Neither team looked very good but Byrnes improved tremendously and Indy did not.

Indy maybe the team to beat in Charlotte and NC but other teams know they are beatable.

Anonymous said...

Knotts has not been at Indy For 24 Years ! He coached At West Charlotte in The earl to Mid 1990's. I live and attend high school in Charlotte and have seen indy since the Joe Cox Era and they have regressed but teams in Charlotte Especialy Butler which is right down the street from them have improved. The Only team the really blew out last year was Ardrey Kell my school only in its 2nd year so losing Hollaman is gonna hurt them but they will probley win state this year bc Butler lost a lot of talent.

Jamie DeMoney said...

There was an error in the first draft of this capsule. We mistakenly referenced Knotts' career coaching record of 277-58 as his coaching record at Independence. His actual record at Independence of 106-4 in seven seasons is now included. Sorry for the error.

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