WS Chronicle

In above photo: Germane Crowell Jr. (holding football) drops back for a pass during the first official practice of the season. Crowell, a senior, is expected to start at quarterback for the Yellow Jackets. (Photo by Tevin Stinson)

Carver head coach Germane Crowell Sr. is confident his team can win it all

By Tevin Stinson

The Chronicle

For most teams, a 9-2 record would be a big accomplishment, but for head coach Germane Crowell Sr. and Carver Nation, anything less than a state championship is unacceptable.

Last season, the Yellow Jackets lost to Shelby High School, 14-31, in the second round of the state playoffs.

Crowell said coming into the 2015 season, the expectations are the same as any other year at Carver High School when it comes to football: a state championship.

From 1988 to 2005, the Yellow Jackets managed to bring home 11 conference titles, establishing themselves as one of the states best football programs in the ’90s and early 2000s.

Carver also won two NCHSAA 3-A Football State Championships in 1998 and 2000.

“Our mindset never changes,” said Crowell. “Every year, our expectation is to win a state championship.”

Coming into the season, Crowell said he wanted the team to focus on getting stronger.

The Yellow Jackets will return a number of players on both offense and defense, which is always a plus in high school football.

“We feel very confident coming into this year,” Crowell said. “We have pretty much our entire defense coming back and a number of players on offense as well.”

Seniors Jason Walker, De’quan Napper and Tirek Vance are all expected to anchor a defense that will rely on strength, experience and speedy defensive backs.

Richard Huntley and Brandon Sessoms will also play a major roll in the Yellow Jackets’ defense.

On offense, the Yellow Jackets will look to seniors Rashad Butler and Tyquan Watson.

Last season, Butler and Watson accumulated over 1,000 all-purpose yards a piece.

When asked about the upcoming season, Watson seemed confident in his teams’ chances of having a successful season.

“This is my senior year, so I am defiantly ready,” Watson said.

Last season, Watson played both running back and wide receiver for the Yellow Jackets.

Germane Crowell Jr. will start at quarterback.

Last season, Crowell Jr. shared duties early in the season before taking over permanently as the starter late in the season.

Crowell Sr. said he has really seen his son grow as a quarterback and is confident he has what it takes to lead Carver to its goal.

“He’s really starting to understand what it takes to be a quarterback at the next level,” coach Crowell said. “He has really grown, not just as a quarterback but as a leader as well.”

The Yellow Jackets will open the season at home against Dudley on Aug. 21.

Last season Dudley was forced to forfeit all of its wins because of a NCHSAA rule violation.

Crowell knows Dudley’s players are going to come into that opening game with a chip on their shoulder, so he said it is important that his players remain focused and take the season one game at a time.

“I’m really looking forward to that first game,” Crowell said. “If we get out to a good start, that will set the tone for the rest of the season.” Joel Oglesby, an assistant coach for the Yellow Jackets, said with the athletes they have, there is no reason why they can’t win it all.

“We have some amazing athletes. I think we have some of the best athletes in the city,” said Oglesby. “If everyone does their job, there is no reason why we shouldn’t compete for a state title.”