Meigs County coach Ricky HolidayFAN'S GUIDE TO THIS YEAR'S MEIGS COUNTY TIGERS
Coach: Ricky Holliday (5-6 here in his first season and overall) Stadium: Jewell Field Address: 105 Abel Avenue, Decatur, TN 37322
THREE STRENGTHS
1) After winning more games under a first-year head coach than they did the previous two seasons, the Tigers seemed to have bought into the new system.
2) Despite the graduation of two 300-pounders, the offensive line should be a strong unit. Only right guard, where a junior and sophomore are competing for the spot, is a position where a newcomer will play.
3) Coach Holliday said sophomore quarterback Bryson Baker is shrewd beyond his years on a football field. Baker was moved into the position halfway through last season, making a coverage read and throwing to an alternate receiver for a touchdown on his first pass, and the job has been his since.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Several inexperienced sophomores are going to be counted on to play key reserve roles and in some cases starting roles. Coach Holliday said freshman Ryan Rayl will start at tight end, but he's earned the position.
2) Jacob Kile, Austin Cooley and Brandon Perry are among the sophomores expected to have to grow up quickly. They're linemen and that's where the Tigers need some depth.
3) Meigs gave up 42 and 44 points in its last two games last season after holding six of its previous nine opponents to 17 or fewer, including two shutouts. How the returning players respond early in the season could be pivotal.
BY THE NUMBERS
8 - Winning seasons for Meigs County in the 10-year span from 1998 to 2007, and another of those seasons was 5-5.
9 - Games in which Meigs County scored at least 14 points last year, although four turned out to be losses.
12 - Seasons since the Tigers' last playoff victory, 30-27 over Smith County in the first round in 2000.
Three questions with ...
Tyler Shelton
Senior receiver/Running back/linebacker
Q: Of the positions you play, which do you like best and why?
A: Linebacker, just because I like to hit.
Q: What do you feel good about your teamheading into the season?
A: I think we're going to be a physical team that's not going to back down.
Q: What would a playoff wn mean?
A: We haven't had one in a long time. A playoff win would be amazing for our community.
2011 STATS LEADERS
RUSHING Att Yards Avg TD
Travis Savage 200 1,074 5.4 9
Dakota Green 132 819 6.2 6
Steven Cronnon 36 205 5.7 2
*Lee Wilson 44 178 4.0 2
PASSING Comp-Att Yards Int TD
*Elliott Aikman 23-50 331 6 4
*Bryson Baker 20-47 238 3 4
RECEIVING Att Yards Avg TD
Travis McHone 8 159 19.9 3
Travis Savage 7 110 15.7 2
*Jesse Mills 5 89 17.8 1
TACKLES Solo Assists Total
Carter Scott 58 31 89
*Lee Wilson 46 36 82
*returning player
SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at Upperman
Aug. 24 Sequatchie County
Aug. 31 Sequoyah*
Sept. 7 Silverdale Baptist
Sept. 14 at McMinn Central*
Sept. 28 at Sweetwater
Oct. 5 at Cannon County
Oct. 12 at McMinn County
Oct. 19 Tellico Plains
Oct. 26 Polk County*
*District 5-AA game
ROSTER
1 Tyler Millard Junior
2 Bryson Baker Sophomore
3 Elliot Aikman Senior
4 Tyler Lawson Freshman
5 Bryson Ridge Freshman
6 Quincy Parris Junior
8 Tristan Fisher Freshman
9 Chase Himes Junior
10 Derek Letner Sophomore
14 David Hicks Junior
15 Ryan Rayl Freshman
16 Tommy Curouthers Sophomore
20 Tyler Shelton Senior
22 Jesse Mills Senior
24 Austin Goforth Senior
25 Zack Ridge Sophomore
28 Dakota Ricker Sophomore
30 Lee Wilson Junior
32 Taylor Fugate Sophomore
33 Dakota Kennedy Senior
40 Zack Thomas Sophomore
42 Austin Dake Freshman
44 Bryan Savage Senior
46 Brian Baskowsky Freshman
50 Cody Kennedy Junior
50 Marcus Carver Freshman
51 Greg Williams Senior
52 Derek Gennoe Senior
53 Tyler Williams Junior
55 Marcus Smock Freshman
56 Richard Cleary Freshman
57 Zack Farrington Junior
58 Austin Cooley Sophomore
59 Gavin Scott Freshman
60 Dakota Lowe Senior
62 Brandon Perry Sophomore
63 Jacob Kile Sophomore
65 Cole Patton Senior
66 Dylan Taylor Sophomore
68 Blaze Bunch Freshman
71 Blake Hogan Senior
72 Alec McKenzie Freshman
73 Austin Kennedy Junior
74 Travis Morrison Freshman
75 David Brown Freshman
78 Tyler Trew Senior
80 Cameron Hurn Senior
85 Tanner Peaden Sophomore