Storylines to follow

After totaling just five wins under head coach John Starr, Salem High School shined bright in 2014, finishing the season with a 6-5 record and the Seminoles first trip to the playoffs in years.

Salem's offense lost a few of its best weapons last year in former ‘Noles Hasan Boddie and Kanome McIntosh.

The defense returns college prospects Robert Chambers and Bher Cooper, who will man a strong defensive line at Salem. The line, both offensively and defensively, is Salem's strength, but will they be able to hold up against teams that play at a faster pace?

The determining factor to Salem's success will be its offense. Three times last year, the ‘Noles were held to six points or less, including Salem's first round playoff loss to Dalton (23-6). Salem's defense will keep the team in the game and if they find a way to put up 20-plus points - Salem was 4-1 when scoring at least 20 points last season - then they can be as dangerous as any team.

Top guns:

QB: Senior Gerald Walker. Walker passed for over 2,000 yards last season.

RB: Senior Kurt Tyriano Greene and Robby Cyrus. Greene rushed for over 1,000 yards last season.

WR: Junior Justin Marshall.

DL: Salem's defensive line is stacked with talent. Senior Bher Cooper, Robert Chambers and Davon Bigsby hold down the line with junior Jordan Robinson.

LB: Senior Robert Kimble and Junior De'morreal "Mo" Burnham.

DB: Senior Evan Jones.

KR/PR: Darryl Carter

Projected award winners:

MVP: Salem head coach John Starr elected not to pick an MVP just yet.

Most improved player: Junior Kyle Zuber

Practice warrior: Senior Nick West

Most important defensive player to watch: Robert Kimble

Offensive player player to watch: Davon Bigsby

Breakout candidate: Justin Marshall

Projected starters on offense and defense:

QB: Gerald Walker DE: Rod Foster
RB: Tyriano Greene DE: Davon Bigsby
RB: Robby Cyrus DT: Robert Chambers
RB: A.J. Morton DT: Bher Cooper
WR: Justin Marshall LB: Mo Burnham
WR/RB: Kyle Zuber LB: Robert Kimble
OL: Brandon Joseph LB: Manny Holmes
OL: Tyler Williams LB: T.J. Jones
OL: Davon Bigsby CB: Evan Jones
OL: Nick West CB: Kendrick Bolton
OL: Austin Williams SS: Sulton Williams

Schedule

8/28 7:30 p.m.
Vs. Rockdale County (Conyers, GA)

9/4 7:30 p.m.
@ Heritage (Conyers, GA)

9/11 7:30 p.m.
@ Apalachee (Winder, GA)

9/18 7:30 p.m.
Vs. Clarke Central (Athens, GA)

9/25 7:30 p.m.
@ Winder-Barrow (Winder, GA

10/2 7:30 p.m.
Vs. Gainesville (Gainesville, GA)

10/9
BYE WEEK

10/16 7:30 p.m.
Vs. Loganville (Loganville, GA)

10/23 7:30 p.m.
Vs. Lanier (Sugar Hill, GA)