Mountain Pine - Red Devils

Head coach: Sam Counce Record at school: 7-14 2017 finish: 7-4 (5-2), 3rd in 2A-7 conference

MOUNTAIN PINE — The Red Devils surged back into the playoffs in 2017 with a seven-game winning streak in the 2A-7 conference, but they shift into the 2A-5 conference this season.

Mountain Pine lost, 35-0, to open the season a year ago and did not lose again until meeting the last two state champions in Class 2A, Foreman and Mount Ida. The Gators bested the Lions at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the 2018 title. The new league offers regional matchups with teams such as Cutter Morning Star, Magnet Cove and Poyen instead of road trips to Dierks, Lafayette County and Murfreesboro.

“We are picked fifth behind Poyen, England, Magnet Cove and Conway Christian,” said head coach Sam Counce. “As a team, I feel good about all of them. I feel like we can compete with those who are picked in front of us. We are probably right where we need to be, but I think we are fine with our kids. I think we will compete in this conference. We will see some speed.

“Conway Christian and England will be fast. I think we will match up well with them. I am cautiously optimistic about our chances in this conference.”

Mountain Pine graduated more than 1,400 yards of offense and 20 touchdowns from Fay Haywood last season. He was also second with 63 tackles on defense, behind only Carter Chapman’s 120.

Team leaders such as Elijah Browning, Collin Smith, Jason Bennett and Josh Walpole will be expected to contribute on both sides of the ball.

“This is iron man football,” Counce said. “You’ve got to play both sides here.”

The coaches said they were especially pleased with the leadership of Browning from the end of last season and into the offseason and preseason.

“He has taken it into the summer,” Counce said. “He has been a leader, he has been here early and he has taken his football very seriously. I am very impressed with Eli.

“He gets here early. In drills, he gets those guys going. If somebody is loafing, he gets them. He has stepped up.”

Smith returns at quarterback after running and passing for more than 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. The coaches said they also plan to utilize receivers such as Walpole more in the passing game.

“We watched him in basketball last year and the way he used his body and competed for the ball,” Counce said. “We are going to try to put him in the same situations.”