JOHNSTOWN – Dave Everson is not the sugarcoating anything. The veteran coach knows the Northridge football team is facing an uphill climb.
Northridge must replace 13 seniors and already has dealt with injuries to key players during the summer in advance of what again will be a challenging start to the schedule. Everson, however, took his sixth head coaching job because of the players he met a season ago.
“We have a very good group, and we have a very good team dynamic,” senior lineman Brice Beaver said. “Obviously, we lost 13 seniors, but the guys that we have stepping up I am hoping they are going to be just as good, maybe better. I am looking forward to it.”
Everson, who was defensive coordinator in his first season at Northridge in 2025, has replaced Dustin Calhoun as head coach. Everson has an extensive resume, which includes head coaching stops at Zanesville, Morgan, Bloom-Carroll, Richmond Edison and most recently Washington Court House for two seasons in 2023 and ‘24.
“Most importantly it’s about our culture and our work ethic,” Everson said. “Coach Calhoun did an amazing job of setting the culture here, and we just want to take it to the next level and build on that.”
Northridge has been without senior two-way starters Colton Isler, who caught 23 passes for 298 yards and a score last season, and Wyatt Boston because of injuries, but the flip side is it has opened up opportunities for others to impress the coaching staff. The Vikings also have worked senior Noah Mason, who has never played high school football, into the rotation at quarterback with sophomore Bridon Angus.
“You have an idea of what you want to do offensively and defensively, but then you really learn the skill sets of your kids and figure out what your identity is going to be based on your talents,” Everson said. “That’s high school football. We don’t go out and recruit, get free agents.”
Injuries undercut a roster last season the Vikings hoped could compete for a Licking County League-Cardinal Division championship. They slipped to 4-6 after previously finishing the regular season 5-5 and making the Division V playoffs in 2024.
Northridge does return a healthy Beaver, who was missing from the offensive and defensive lines due to a knee injury. Junior Jaxon Richey primarily replaced Beaver at guard, and a few others a taste of varsity action.
“I am mainly focused on having a nice bounce-back year after missing it due to an ACL tear,” Beaver said. “(Experience) helps a lot. I remember coming in my sophomore year and never having that the year before. They do have that privilege of having a little bit. They all work very hard. We have played together for a while, so they are bought into the program.”
Senior running back Jayce Golden also missed the first half of last season with injury before rushing for 556 yards and eight TDs in the five LCL-Cardinal games. Combining essentially two half-seasons, he has run for more than 1,000 yards and could be one of the LCL’s breakout performers this season.
“We were definitely a little scared (last year) with the big guys (on the offensive line) getting injured, but with them getting all of the reps, they are definitely a big help. It is definitely helping with the transition,” Golden said.
Isler, Boston and classmate Riley Reeves, who will join junior Timothy Goldsmith as top receiving threats, are experienced playmakers in the secondary. Juniors Spencer Orgill and Declan Brannigan will be asked to disrupt opposing offenses as that duo recorded three sacks apiece with Orgill making 21 tackles in seven games and Brannigan 20 in just four.
Everson coached a defense that allowed the Vikings to be competitive in all but two losses last season. Despite being hit hard by graduation, it has the same potential if the offense can control the clock.
“You find out early,” Everson said. “If a dog is going to bite, he’s going to bite as a pup right? That’s what (coach John Cooper) always said when I was a (graduate assistant) at Ohio State. We have a lot to work with, and I am excited moving forward.”
Four teams on the Northridge schedule, including Fredericktown in Week 2 and Grandview Heights in Week 3, reached the postseason a year ago. The Vikings will be shooting for a third consecutive win against East Knox when the Bulldogs visit for the season opener.
“His message has been to find a way,” Beaver said. “We don’t have that many guys on our team this year, but we are going to find a way to win when adversity comes.”
Golden added, “We definitely have to go all in. We are a smaller team, so we all have to be there for each other and just give it our all as much as we can.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Northridge football has a new coach, but not too much is changing
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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By Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
