Norcross endured an up-and-down season on offense in 2025, which was on display in its first two games. The unit struggled to score in a 16-12 win over Lanier in Week 1, and followed with a 45-point outburst in a breakthrough victory over Mill Creek the following week.

A more consistent performance on that side of the ball is the goal this season.

“We were very young last year on offense and we struggled from time to time offensively, no question,” head coach Corey Richardson said. “We’ve got a good offense coming back with experience, though.”

A good portion of that experience is along the line, where Taylor Tillis, Nasir Mitchell and Esimi Okosun are among the returnees. Cassius Pacheco also has stepped up at the position.

“When you return the bulk of your offensive line, it makes you feel good as a coach,” Richardson said.

The typically talented Norcross wide receiver group is led by Drew Noelsaint (28 catches, 297 yards, touchdown last season), Titus Travis (15-289-4), Jaylen Tipton and Zien Goodine, as well as hybrid tight end Davis Marschke (14-216-3).


“We’re playing as a team, one team, one Norcross, one love, especially in the receiver room,” Noelsaint said. “If someone messes up, there’s no negativity in the receiving room. We come together, figure out the problem, solve it right there and execute, execute, execute. In football, if you keep the consistency, we can be unstoppable.”

Running back Sylvester Jarwlee returns after getting reps last season as a sophomore, while Connor Washington also is in the mix there. Luqman Baig, a junior, has stepped up in a competition to be Norcross’ new starting quarterback.

DEFENSE
Roughly half of Norcross’ defensive starters must be replaced from a group that fared well most of last season.

“We’re a little bit younger on defense, but we’re making progress on the right way to get them ready,” Richardson said. “We’ve got the players, it’s just the Friday night experience we’re trying to develop early in the year.”

Marcus Austin and Trenton Kennemore (46 tackles, 6 1/2 for losses) return on the defensive line, where Okosun and Jakob Fairley also will help, while linebacker is a strength with both Eric Pitts (65 tackles, six for losses, one sack, one interception) and A.J. Allen (68 tackles, 10 for losses, two sacks, three interceptions) back.


Noelsaint and Travis are two-way players expected to contribute in the secondary, and fellow defensive back Canon Huff has shown potential.

“The defense is looking good with the group we have,” Pitts said. “From the spring game to how we’re looking now is way better. I love how we continue to get better every week.”

ETC.
The 2025 season was Richardson’s 25th at Norcross, but his first as head coach after a promotion to replace longtime head coach Keith Maloof, who led the Blue Devils to a pair of state titles. Now in his second season in charge, he is more comfortable with his role.

“I’m just excited. It’s been a great group,” Richardson said of this year’s team. “As they came in, they’ve bought into everything we’ve ever asked them to do. The thing we’ve really been focused on is being more of a player-led team versus a coach-led team. We’re starting to see snippets of it where these guys are leading. You can’t be with these kids everywhere they go. … It’s kind of fun when the players are holding each other accountable. That’s been a fun part.

“The Keith Maloof foundation is always going to be there for me. I’m not wavering from it. I feel more confident in what I’m doing. I had a player meeting in February or March and at that point when I first got appointed I was giddy. I told them this year I’m not giddy anymore because how we finished the season is not acceptable, not at Norcross. I rolled my sleeves up and we all went to work.”


The disappointing finish was a three-game losing streak to end the season — all in lopsided fashion. It began with a 44-6 loss to North Gwinnett and a 43-8 loss to Brookwood to close region play before a 44-7 loss at Grayson in the first round of the state playoffs, finishing a 6-5 season.

Norcross could have taken an 8-0 record into that stretch if not for two close losses earlier in the season, 24-21 to Walton and 24-22 to Peachtree Ridge.

The Blue Devils have maintained their coaching staff outside of newly hired linebackers coach Jake Simpson, who played for his father Jess (now Georgia Tech’s defensive line coach) at Buford. … The schedule begins with Mill Creek at home on Aug. 21 before road games at West Forsyth and North Atlanta. Non-region play concludes back at home against North Forsyth.