Triton High School Football
Players and Alumni Site
Football is in the Air The Triton Hawks football team is now in the third week of spring drills. With the loss of 21 graduating seniors, the outcome of the 2010 season will be very questionable. Defense continues to improve, as the Hawks lose only three defensive starters. Coach McCullen said, " Our defense will have to carry us early. Offensively, we will be a work in progress. We may have to move away from two-platooning and have guys going both ways. It will definitely be a rebuilding year."
By: Maggie Hobson
Sr. QB David Smith
Defense returns the most experience from the 2009 team. Their strength is the linebackers with the return of 3 out of 4 starters. Derick McKoy, Dominique Smith, and Martin Fane will return for their senior year much bigger, stronger, and faster. They have worked hard in the weight room during the off-season preparing for a successful season in the fall. Though defense will be strong behind McKoy, Smith, and Fane, the defensive line has a big hole to fill due to the loss of Appalachian State’s newest defensive lineman, William Corbin. The secondary will also be young behind Triton’s two-year starter, Patrick McNeill, who will return in the fall as a junior.
Offense will be very young and inexperienced going into the 2010 season. Many players will be missed and replaced due to the loss of the two-year starting tailback, Kiwon Warren. Warren currently holds many school records, included single season (30) and career (64) touchdowns. Triton’s 3-year starting kicker, Nick Glover, and Cameron Goff, the Hawks starting wide receiver, will also be missed, along with 5 out of the 6 starting offensive lineman. A bright spot of the 2010 season will be the return of starting quarterback David Smith. After missing 7 games last year due to a concussion and knee injury, Smith is healthy and ready to return to the field.
McCullen, Warren Take Home Awards
By Maggie Hobson
At the beginning of the 2009 football season, the Triton coaching staff knew they had a shot at doing well in the new conference. Going into the last game, Coach Joe McCullen had put his Hawks in a position to win the conference championship outright against the South Johnston Trojans. Unfortunately, Triton came up just short and would go on to finish with its second straight 8-4 season.
Although the Hawks didn’t accomplish all of its season goals, the team was still well respected by other teams and coaches in the conference. This respect was proven when Coach McCullen was voted the Conference Tri-Coach of the Year along with CB Aycock’s Randy Pinkowski and
Another highlight of the Hawks’ 2009 season was then their senior running back, Kiwon Warren, was voted the Conference Co-Player or the Year along with Josh Dunigan of
The team and the coaches were pleased with their performance in 2009. The Hawks’ are preparing to come back next season stronger and ready to take on any challenge that comes their way. Next year will mark the 25th Anniversary of Triton High School and the coaching staff has already began preparations to bring home the first championship in school history.
National Signing Day at Triton High School
2010
William Corbin of Dunn, NC
Played 4 Years at Triton as Defensive End
Signed with Appalachian State University Mountaineers 2/3/2010
Division 1 FCS Football Program - (SoCon) Southern Conference Football
5 Consecutive Conference Championships and 3 Straight National Championships
Signing Day Pictures Click Here
Brian McLawhorn
MountaineerIllustrated.com Publisher
Talk about it in the Message Boards
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| William Corbin |
"My high school coach told me [Appalachian State] because he played there," Corbin said. "He always reminded me about App - every time I walk in his office I see pictures of the win at Michigan, the game at Auburn and LSU. I see things about the championships.
"I knew about them. I was hoping they would offer me on my visit. I kept telling my aunt and my parents I would commit if they offered."
ASU did, and Corbin kept his word.
In fact, the more time Corbin spent on campus during his official visit two weekends ago the stronger his desire to attend App State became. His visit included all of the ordinary activities - a Friday dinner with the team and coaches, a tour of Boone, time to hangout with the players, a Saturday tour of the facilities, meetings with academic advisors and more time with coaches.
By the time Saturday night was rolling in, Corbin had what he wanted, and soon after, Appalachian State had what it wanted.
"They offered me on Saturday night, and I committed to coach (Jerry) Moore during my meeting with him," Corbin stated. "Coach Moore really wanted me to go there, and I think he knew I wanted to come after I bought an Appalachian State hoodie. It was a big load off my back. I was excited and relieved to have my decision made. I called my coaches to tell them.
"The school, the town, it was beautiful. My parents liked the town a lot. The coaches and players are all really nice people. It's a good fit for me. Coach Moore seems like a great coach, and he knows how to win."
Coach Moore's reaction, as is usually the case, was one that will likely stick out in Corbin's mind for years to come. In some instances Moore has been known to crack the occasional joke in the midst of thanking his future pupil. This time it was the coach's sincere words that Corbin remembered so clearly.
"When he first saw me, he was surprised that I was interested because of my size," the Triton High senior said. "He said I have a great chance to be a great football player at Appalachian State. He said that he sees a lot of great things in me.
"He wants me to come visit for spring training, and see what they do. He wants me to be around it as much as I can and see how things are done at Appalachian."
While Corbin is excited to play for Moore, he is also very eager to learn from ASU defensive tackles coach Jason Blalock. The two have had plenty of time to get to know one another, and the knowledge that Blalock brings to the table is something that Corbin is looking forward to tapping into.
"I see that [Blalock] knows what he is doing," he said. "He can do a lot to help me get used to [the college game]. I will be happy to play for him, and learn as much as I can from him.
"I talked to him and some of the other coaches and they said there is a possibility they redshirt me. That would give me more time to get used to the playbook, and help me overall. I'm fine with redshirting if that's what they want me to do. It will make me a better player. At the same time, I'm ready to play now if that's what they want."
Corbin's size alone has not only the ASU coaching staff excited about the future, but also the fans. His weight has been rumored at anywhere from 280 to 300 pounds, and his height has been listed at both 6-foot-6, and 6-foot-7. Though he set the record straight about how big he is, he also detailed the finer points of his game and what else he brings to the table besides size.
"I weighed myself yesterday," Corbin said late last week. "I'm 6-foot-6, and weigh 284 pounds. I want to stay around 290 for my playing weight.
"My strengths are my pass rush. I really like to pass rush, and that's what I do best. Something I'm working on is my staying low. I'm a tall guy, so staying low is the most important thing for me.
"My coaches have me staying at the height I need to be at. I'm hitting sleds, pulling sleds, running hills and working on my speed. My workout is meant to keep me low, help me be quicker and help me be more flexible. They told me that App State really worries and focuses on your hips. I'm working to be flexible and move better."
Prior to his commitment to Appalachian State, Corbin was drawing heavy interest from UNC Pembroke, NC A&T and Western Kentucky. The senior was scheduled to visit Pembroke, but cancelled late Thursday night prior to his visit in order to take his trip to Appalachian State.
Corbin posted 71 tackles and eight sacks as a senior. The senior is expected to sign his letter-of-intent early Wednesday morning.
Triton High School Football Team 2009
Triton High Varsity Football Games
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