Cleveland
Head coach: Scott Cummings (18-15 in three years here; 118-73 overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive,
5 defensive
Key players: DE Victor Dodd (5-11, 220), DB David Dorsey (5-11, 170), QB Jackson Moore (6-0, 185), LB Logan Strickland (5-10, 220), OL/DL Alex Williams (6-3, 260). Team strengths: There is plenty of size and experience up front on both sides of the ball. The Blue Raiders average 6-foot-2, 270 pounds on the offensive line, including senior center Caleb Flickner (6-2, 305), a three-year starter and a college prospect. The defensive line is anchored by Alex Higgins (6-2, 280) at noseguard along with ends Dodd and Wilson Benefield (6-1, 230). Benefield has made the move from offense and brings an aggressive attitude. Team concerns: The entire backfield is very inexperienced. Kellye Cawood, an all-state quarterback last year, chose not to play this season, and running back Keegan Jones, a Division I recruit, graduated. Moore, who has battled injuries throughout his career, takes over at quarterback, and at least three running backs who had little to no action last year will be counted on now. Newcomers to watch: Junior receiver Robert “Deuce” Flowers (6-4, 180) could be set for a breakout season, and senior Jordan Hickey (6-0, 220) has a chance to be a punishing running back who’s versatile enough to line up at tight end, too. Said Cummings: “Robert’s got all the athleticism in the world and looks like he’s ready to become special. Jordan is one of those guys that if he puts it all together he could be a really good player for us.”
Season outlook: There are more questions than certainty heading into the season, but the offensive line has the potential to control things,
and Cleveland has never been short on athletes.
The Blue Raiders also gained a lot of confidence in knowing how to finish in close games after winning three of the four that were decided by seven or fewer points last season.
Replacing Cawood’s passing accuracy and overall productivity will be difficult, but just as big a concern will be keeping Moore upright. He missed most of his sophomore season with a broken arm and was out last season with a broken ankle so severe it required several pins to be inserted.
Moore showed flashes of his potential this summer, including helping Cleveland win the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 7-on-7 tournament.
“He’s got talent and is a very good leader,” Cummings said of Moore. “It was good to see him have success in the preseason, and the kids have rallied around him because he’s a guy who’s had the worst luck in the world but has stayed the course and is still out there playing for his school.”