‘DIFFERENT MINDSET’
Whitwell ready to challenge Pirates again
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of prep football region previews involving area teams. Coming Tuesday are 2-2A and 3-2A.
It was a season of almosts for the teams of Region 3-1A in 2017.
South Pittsburg almost returned to the state championship game for the first time in five years, narrowly losing at eventual state champion Greenback in the semifinals.
Whitwell almost took the region title away from South Pittsburg, coming up just short in a late-season rally. The Tigers drove inside the Pirates’ 5-yard line before being held on downs in the final minute of a seven-point loss.
Copper Basin almost finished with a .500 record, losing three games by seven or fewer points. Lookout Valley almost had its first winning season in six years, with the Yellow Jackets losing a pair of games to teams they were favored to beat before turnovers cost them. Sale Creek almost qualified for the playoffs for the first time in program history. Despite having nearly double the total yards in a game against Copper Basin, the Panthers lost 7-0, costing them a shot at the postseason.
There is plenty of reason for all five teams to believe they can clear those hurdles this season.
South Pittsburg returns seven starters on each side of the ball, including 2017 Tennessee Mr. Football semifinalist Garrett Raulston, a 6-foot2, 230-pound fullback/middle linebacker. As usual, the Pirates will have no shortage of team speed in the backfield and will boast a variety of offensive weapons capable of putting up big numbers, including junior wingback Ronto Tipton and junior athlete Jaylyn Hubbard, who could see action in the backfield and at receiver.
Hubbard played quarterback last season, but sophomore Brayden Sanders has locked down that position, allowing the speedy Hubbard to move around. For once, the speed and athleticism in the skill positions may not be the team’s strength, however.
“We’ve got guys up front who are experienced and strong enough to take over in the second half of games,” said Pirates coach Vic Grider, referring to an offensive line that includes seniors Cooper Stewart (6-2, 235) and Grayson Lawson (6-1, 240). Defensively, the Pirates will have to replace two experienced linebackers but otherwise return much of the talent from a group that allowed an average of just 9.7
points per game.
Whitwell can match its cross-county rivals in returning experience and talent. The Tigers, who won 11 games last season and reached the state quarterfinals, have arguably the best running back tandem in Class 1A with Hudson Petty (6-2, 190) and Josh Wingo (6-2, 205).
Nine of the Tigers’ wins a year ago came by the mercy rule, and the defense gave up seven or fewer points 10 times. That group was led by linebacker Thundur Roberts (6-1, 190), who ranked among the area’s leaders in tackles as a junior.
“We’ve seen a different mindset on this team,” second-year Tigers coach Randall Boldin said. “We went 11-2, but they realize that wasn’t good enough, so they push each other in the weight room and in conditioning and on the field.
“Our kids will read the hype, but we try to keep them grounded as best we can and just remind them that if you follow the process, the wins will take care of themselves.”
In the offseason, Copper Basin made a coaching change for the first time in 12 years, and Chad Grabowski takes over after helping guide Red Bank to the Class 3A semifinals last season. The Cougars have five starters back on each side of the ball, and since Grabowski took over, roster numbers have nearly doubled.
The Cougars have good experience up front and several capable ball carriers in what will likely be a run-heavy offense.
Lookout Valley also made a coaching change. Sort of. Lance Rorex, last year’s head coach, stepped back to being the secondary coach, and David Dinger, last year’s defensive coordinator, took over for his third stint as head coach at his alma mater.
Besides six starters returning on each side of the ball, the Yellow Jackets also have four transfers who should see extensive action on both sides.
“This is probably the biggest group of linemen and the best depth up front I’ve seen us have,” Dinger said. “We probably average better than 220 pounds on the line, so we should be strong there. I like our backs, too, but we just don’t have a lot of them.”
Continuing the region’s theme of having a large number of starters back, Sale Creek has six on each side and a talented group of sophomores who should be ready to contribute. The senior trio of quarterback Tanner Harvey, tailback Cody Defore and receiver Hunter Storey give the Panthers enough offensive punch to contend for that elusive first playoff trip.