COLUMBUS — Sometimes growing comes with pain.
The 2023 Patriots learned that the hard way in Year One under head coach Tobias Smith, but they needed to grow, and grow fast.
“Some of them it happened naturally, others it was forced to happen, but the good thing is that it happened,” Smith said of his young team’s difficult season a year ago. “We went in having freshmen playing varsity from the first game against one of the best teams in the state. To see the progression from where they were to where they are now has been great. They bust their butt every day, they do what I ask them to do, and that’s all I can ask.”
Smith took over the program during a time of change. Several starters in key positions had either graduated, transferred or chosen to focus on a different sport. The Patriots went winless throughout the 2023 season after being on the verge of playing for a state title a year earlier.
Their 0-9 record was the program’s first losing season since 2014 and the worst in terms of losses since going 1-10 in 2007. Heritage also failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
It wasn’t an easy experience, and Smith, his staff and the players are all motivated to channel that into something positive.
“It was great to get them the game experience,” Smith said. “You see a team that has no wins and you get to game six and game seven, there is still the effort that you’re preaching. You still see the energy and work ethic, all the things you talk about. We’re not always going to be young, not always going to be weak or small, so that work and experience is paying dividends for us now.”
One player in particular who bore a heavy burden with responsibility and criticism was quarterback Thompson Regimbal. He stepped in to fill the shoes of a long line of talented quarterbacks before him. To make matters worse for Regimbal, nearly every starter was young and new to their position.
“I thought it was definitely a building year,” Regimbal said. “We were all able to grow from it, juniors on down. Even some of the eighth graders who were brought up to play on varsity got reps and got a chance to grow. Everyone got more experience than we would have with a loaded senior class playing, so I think it’s good for this year.”
The quarterback took his lumps though, and he expressed positivity with going through the experience. Throughout a difficult season, he and the team bore the expectations of the years and teams before them, but they stuck together. One of Regimbal’s biggest defenders was Smith, and that has continued into the new season as they both look to shake the losses and go again.
“I saw progress from Thompson last year, but it’s hard when you have five new guys in front of you on the offensive line, a new system and a new head coach and staff,” Smith said. “People were down on Thompson but that was unfair to him, and the criticism he took was unfair, but I think he’ll be much better for it this year.”
“I’m a whole lot more comfortable this year,” Regimbal added. “I knew they had my back then, but I definitely know it now after a year with them and building that connection and trust. Not just me and the coaches, but me and my teammates too.”
For the growing pains to pay off it will take a team that looks out for each other, and that appears to be the case at Heritage. The players and the coaches have a renewed spirit of vigor, and head of school Sean Harrison has lent his services where needed as well, voicing full support for Smith.
“I’m an assistant, here to do what Tobias needs me to,” Harrison said. “He has an amazing football mind, especially on offense. We are proud to have him.”
At practice, Smith has a hands-on approach. He is direct with his players about getting their assignments right, putting them in the right position, and honing in on the finer details of footwork, hands, and getting off the line.
The detail and the work ethic of the coaching staff will need to reflect in the players on the field, but Smith is confident that the message has resonated. They travel to Jackson on Friday for their first game against Hartfield Academy, a team that blanked them 29-0 to kick off 2023. It’s a tough first test to gauge just how much the Patriots have grown, but for the wins to come, Smith needs to see the pride and focus required in everything his players do.
“We’ve had some really good practices, and I tell the guys it’s not about what anyone else does,” Smith said. “We’ve got to be the best Heritage we can be. Not just every snap or every play, but every step and hand placement. It ain’t perfect, but the guys are doing what we ask of them with the effort we ask of them, and it’s been good.”
ROSTER
0 Xzavier Webber WR/DB 11
2 Charlie Fowler WR/DB 11
3 Adyn Westmoreland RB/LB 12
4 Arthur Dawson WR/DB 10
5 Nash McCrary WR/DB 11
6 Alex Morabito WR/DB 11
7 Oliver Woodard LB/RB 10
8 Tyler King LB/RB 11
10 Thompson Regimbal QB 12
12 Gipson Hicks WR/LB 9
14 William Golden WR/DB 10
15 Presley Gaskin QB 10
18 Leo Flowers WR/DB 10
19 Lucus Gatewood WR/DB 9
20 Collin Cunningham LB/RB 11
21 Brayden Shelton LB/RB 11
22 Brady Kimbrell WR/DB 11
23 Charlie Walker LB/RB 10
24 Jaylen McElveen WR/DB 9
30 Steven Ziegelmann LB/RB 10
38 Jorden McElveen LB/RB 10
41 Wyatt Hulsey WR/DB 10
45 Jaden Miller OL/DL 11
50 Hays Sansing OL/LB 12
52 Brandon Turner OL/DL 10
54 Raymond Jessop OL/DL 12
61 Jack Tompkins OL/DL 11
62 Campbell Callaway OL/DL 10
65 Jace Richardson OL/DL 10
66 Thomas Caldwell OL/DL 10
70 Austin Stumpf OL/DL 11
71 Mason More OL/DL 9
72 Gavin Bridges OL/DL 9
73 Hank Baucom OL/DL 10
74 Bobby Bond OL/DL 9
77 Bryson Wilson OL/DL 12
81 Lockhart Garner WR/DB 10
99 Radarron Leech OL/DL 12
COACHING STAFF
Head coach Tobias Smith
Assistant coaches
Jonathan Banks – Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
John Bond- Defensive Line
Toby Lott- Running Backs/Tight Ends
Sean Harrison
Tripp Matthews- Outside Wide Receivers/Linebackers
Zander Romano- Inside Wide Receivers/Safeties
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