Football Preview: Meigs County expects progress led by line

Meigs County's Carter Scott runs a play during practice at Grace Academy.

Photo by Angela Lewis.

With a senior class that's been part of a 7-23 record the last three years and working now for its third head coach, it might be easy for the Meigs County Tigers to enter this season in a down frame of mind. Carter Scott and Stockton Coffey are at least two who refuse to let that happen.

The Tigers' king-sized linemen instead have positive feelings about the 2011 season. Scott, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive tackle and noseguard, will be starting for a fourth year, and many of his classmates have played a lot, too.

"I think we can win the district [5-AA] this year," Scott said. "We're a lot older. The guys have more experience. I think we can compete with the best."

Coffey (6-0, 290) plays guard beside Scott on the right side and is a tackle on defense.

Ricky Holiday, who was promoted from assistant to head coach this year, said since Coffey was a sophomore he's been the Tigers' most consistent lineman.

"On the line we try to hold each other accountable," Coffey said. "I have a job to do. So do the others. Everybody is expected to do their job."

Scott said not only does he expect Meigs to have strong line play, but he believes there's good potential in the backfield. Coffey said finishing drives once the Tigers reach the red zone is where they need improvement from last year.

Three juniors fill out the starting offensive line. Michael Lowe (5-11, 255) and Cole Patton (6-3, 295) are the starters at guard and tackle on the left side. Lowe will also play some inside linebacker, and Patton is in the rotation at defensive tackle.

Holliday knows the importance of line play, having played defensive tackle for coach Boots Donnelly at Middle Tennessee State University. Holiday said he values the work Greg Williams (5-11, 255) does at center so much he wants him to play exclusively on offense.

"They're the big nasties," Holliday said. "We go where they go. They don't produce, we don't produce, period. Everything starts with them."

And that's how they want it.

"I don't expect anything less from the line this year," Coffey said. "If anything, we ought to be a lot better."

MEMORY LANE

Small-town America was represented well by Decatur, Tenn., on Sept. 14, 2001. No community in the Chattanooga area showed its patriotic pride more on the first weekend after the terrorist attacks on the United States three days earlier.

For instance, the town’s utility poles along the road leading to the high school home game were adorned with American flags. A somber candle-lit ceremony served as the halftime show.

As for the game, the players proved to be focused on the task at hand that night and defeated Marion County 35-7 to improve to 4-0.

“What’s been going on bothered everybody on the team,” fullback Kevin Terrell said after rushing for 151 yards. “But our mindset was to play football.”