Coach’s Corner
Coach Ted Gatewood
Coach’s CornerQ: How would you characterize this year’s team?
A: This year’s team is a hardworking, blue-collar group. We have key experienced players returning on offense and a strong kicking game.
Q: What will be the keys to your success?
A: Keys for success will be developing depth and allowing our younger players to gain some experience.
Q: Who will be your key leaders on the team?
A: Nick Woods (Sr., QB), Burton Bell (Sr., WR), Lofton McGehee (Sr., OL), and Jake McClure (Sr., S/P/K).
Q: What are your biggest reasons for optimism?
A: This group had a taste of success, which they’ll work hard for again this year.
Q: What will keep you up at night?
A: Having young players in some areas of our defensive line.
Q: What can you build on from last year?
A: Winning two road playoff games was a confidence builder.
Q: Any lessons learned from last year?
A: We learned that we can persevere. We dealt with some adversity last season, but the kids pushed through it.
Q: Will we see anything different this year?
A: We’ll do the same things we’ve always done – I-Form offense and 50 defense.
Q: How would you characterize your team’s speed?
A: The team’s speed is good, but we can always use more.
Coach’s View
This year’s team has an opportunity to be very good. We have our quarterback returning, along with quite a few experienced linemen, receivers, and running backs. We have some young men that started on defense last season returning, and some younger ones that gained good experience late in the year. The schedule is tough with Signal Mountain, Cleveland, and Ooltewah in non-region games.
Photos by Stephen Kenney
Andrew Sturdivant
Jake McClure
Ian Amerall
Huichan Yun
Lofton McGehee
Nick Woods
Evan Horbinski
