RHS opens season with new coach, offense

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New leadership, a new region and a trip across the border are the big stories for the Rockmart Yellow Jackets as the wait for football finally ends on the eastern end of Polk County.

Fans will have to travel to see how new head coach Biff Parson plans to tackle a tough season ahead following a trio of losing seasons and a need to rebuild the Rockmart program.

“I feel like we’re on pace to meet our goals as far as our attitude reflecting our effort, and building a team,” Parson said. “We want them understanding the team is more important than them, and I think we’re on track to that goal.”

Parson said he’s noticed a change in the team’s attitude over the summer as the squad comes together as one working unit.

He said that those who have committed themselves to the new “system and standards” of the Yellow Jackets will have a lot to show the City of Rockmart and the fans spread across the nation.

Parson said summer workouts and August practice heading into the first game have so far been positive, with the 62-member team adjusting to his tempo and the effort he expects from players and the Yellow Jackets as a whole.

“That’s been a big positive that we’ve seen as a coaching staff,” he said. “They’ve been here everyday and we’ve seen their willingness to change the culture and change the community. We’re excited about that.”

Rockmart plays in its first game on Aug. 19 in a jamboree in Alabama against Cherokee County. They’ll also get to see how county rival Cedartown fares that night against Piedmont, Ala.

The following week on Aug. 26, Cedartown will be traveling to play Rockmart this year as the Rock hosts the Bulldogs in their home game of the season following the completion of construction work, including a new field house for the team to use.

“We expect a big crowd. Cedartown is Cedartown, and Rockmart is expected to win and compete in that game,” Parson said.

Dylan Bailey and Marcus Smith will share the quarterback duties for Rockmart under Parson’s new offensive scheme for the Jackets.

“Who we start with will depend on who we’re facing, but both of them will play in every game,” Parsons said. “They both give us a lot of different things to attack a defense.”

The quarterbacks don’t have much of a problem sharing duties.

“I think our passing game will be a lot better this year, and we need our receivers to be on board and we’ll make it a lot further this year,” Bailey said.

Smith added that he felt the ground game would be important as well.

“I think I’ll help out with depth and allow us to move some people around on the offense and complicate the opposing defense,” he said.

Following that, Rockmart gets back into the 7AA region, facing off against local foes like Coosa, Pepperell, Armuchee, Model and more as the season progresses.

Senior leaders will be important to this process for Rockmart to overcome local foes, especially for leaders on the team like Morgan Sims and Blake Holloman.