Ram train looks to continue rolling
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of prep football region previews involving area teams. Coming Thursday is 3-3A, 4-3A preview.
Monday’s afternoon heat and humidity had pretty much sapped the energy from Tyner’s football players, making for back-to-back mistakes by the offense. As Wayne Turner, the Chattanooga area’s dean of prep football coaches, stepped into the huddle his instructions were short and blunt.
“Run it again but this time do it right!” Turner growled.
On the next snap the Rams offensive linemen created a gaping hole that 6-foot-1, 215pound sophomore running back Jersey Chubb sprinted through before lowering his shoulder and running over the defender.
A satisfied grin came over Turner’s face and he nodded his approval.
“We’ve got one of the most talented bunch of linemen up front that we’ve had in a while and we’ve got some backs that will make it tough on defensive backs coming up to stop,”
Turner said. “Some of those young guys are real anxious
to show what they can do, too, and I really like that attitude.”
Three years removed from a state runner-up finish, Tyner has remained dominant in Region 3-2A, winning 14 consecutive region games, three straight region titles and averaging 10 wins over those three seasons.
With 13 total starters returning — seven offensive, six defensive — the Rams are once again the region favorite and expected to make another deep playoff run.
The biggest concern is establishing a starting quarterback between senior Amarioun McClain and sophomore Demetrii Lovick, but regardless of who takes the snaps the offense will likely rely more on its ground game than in years past. That’s because, beside the inexperience at quarterback, the foundation for this year’s expectations begins with an offensive line that returns intact from last year, led by veterans Jailin Worthy and Jamarion Varnell.
They will be blocking for a deep group of athletes who are both physical and fast, including Chubb — whose cousin is former University of Georgia star Nick Chubb — as well as senior Jeremiah Sawyer, Melique Hambrick and Anthony Bell.
Sawyer, who recently earned his first scholarship offer from Tennessee State University, gives Tyner a bonafide leader on both sides of the ball. A three-year starter and all-region selection, he rushed for more than 500 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, while also making 69 tackles and 10 more for loss.
“Our backs can bring a load every time they carry the ball,” Turner said. “We’ve just got to work to be more balanced but I like where we’re at.”
Marion County also brings back the majority of its starters — eight on both sides of the ball — and will be back under the direction of Dale Pruitt, who guided the program to consecutive seven-win seasons in his previous stint with the Warriors. Pruitt, the father of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt, is just eight wins shy of 300 for his career.
Overall roster numbers are better and the Warriors have more team speed than they had the past two seasons, led by junior Taye Hutchins, who could play any skill position needed, as well as senior running back/linebacker Alex Nunez (6-1, 185) and quarterback Anthony Guevera, who’s back for his second year as the starter.
Similar to Tyner, Marion’s offensive line could be the team’s strength with good size
and experience, led by Jared Allender, Jackson Anthony, Christian Cannon and tight end Michael Showalter.
The Warriors open the season with consecutive home games against non-region opponents then travel to Polk County, which went winless last year, to open league competition. Getting off to a strong start would help build confidence for back-to-back tough road games, which include a showdown at Tyner. That game could decide the league title and help speed up Marion’s turnaround.
Bledsoe County was one of the area’s surprise teams with an eight-win season — the program’s best in eight years — in Dewayne Tabor’s first year as head coach. The Warriors return 11 total starters, including running back Cadillac Siever and quarterback Harmon Keith, who combined for 1,400 yards and 16 TDs.
For Polk County to end an 11-game losing streak it will need big contributions from the backfield tandem of Eddie Lamb and and Kole Green, who has more than 1,000 career rushing yards. The Wildcats will also need to avoid the injuries that plagued them last season.
Meigs County is the only area team that competes in Region 2-2A and the Tigers have owned that league, having won 15 consecutive region games and three straight region titles. Over the past four years the Tigers compiled a 48-6 overall record and finished as the state runner-up last season.
Six starters return on each side of the ball, including allstate offensive lineman Malachi Hayden (6-3, 280), running back Will Meadows and linebackers Justin Key, Ben Smith and Brady Blevens.
Senior Logan Carroll takes over at quarterback for Aaron Swafford, who was one of the area’s most decorated players in recent history. Swafford, who is now at the Naval Academy, was a three-time Mr. Football finalist, winning the award once. Carroll knows the offense and has enough surrounding talent to allow him to pick and choose his moments to make plays.
Because the Tigers won eight games by four touchdowns or more, a good deal of underclassmen got valuable game experience, which should pay off this season when they’re called on to fill the role of graduated starters. That type of success tends to breed more of the same as players come to expect to find ways to win consistently and that big-game experience cannot be overstated.