BY THE NUMBERS5 - New assistants joining the first-year head coach, including defensive coordinator Chris Hayes and former Southeast Whitfield and Duke University player Marcus Jones.18 - Lettermen returning this season, though Coach Gann lists only four starters returning on offense and defense.6 - Home games this year for the Mountaineers, including four Region 5-AAA contests.SCHEDULEAug. 31 Southeast WhitfieldSep. 7 at Dade CountySep. 14 Johnson, GainesvilleSep. 21 Cartersville*Sep. 28 at Sonoraville*Oct. 5 Adairsville*Oct. 19 at Ringgold*Oct. 26 Lakeview-F.O.*Nov. 2 at Coahulla Creek*Nov. 9 Gordon Central** Region 5-AAA game
NORTH MURRAY MOUNTAINEERS
Coach: David Gann (First year here and overall)
Stadium: Mountaineer Stadium
Address: 2568 Mount Carmel Church Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705
RECENT HISTORY
The Mountaineers are entering their third season of varsity play and their first under former Ringgold assistant coach David Gann. Here's a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
2011 (0)
2010 -(1)
2009 Did not play
2008 Did not play
2007 Did not play
THREE STRENGTHS
1) The Mountaineers have one of the more unknown talents in the area in senior running back/safety Jacob Mays. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder starred at several college camps this offseason and will be a focus of the North Murray offense.
2) Though the Mountaineers are coming off an 0-10 season, they move into a new region (5-AAA) that includes several other teams coming off losing records. The coaches believe contending for a playoff spot is a possibility.
3) Most of last year's offensive production returns, including senior quarterback Brady Swilling, who accounted for 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
THREE QUESTION MARKS
1) The offensive and defensive lines lack depth, something the coaches hope to develop during camp and the nonregion portion of the schedule.
2) The team isn't as physical as the new staff would like, a facet of the game the Mountaineers will need for the I-based, run-first offense to thrive.
3) How the team handles adversity early may well determine its fate later. It's part of a message Coach Gann stressed in camp.
THREE QUESTIONS WITH BRADY SWILLING
(Senior quarterback)
Q: What are your first impressions of the new coaching staff?
A: At first we were a little devastated, but now that we've gotten to form a bond with these coaches I think the change was good. The attitude is great here. The coaches push us really hard, and everybody here just wants to impress them and earn their respect.
Q: This is the first senior class to have started here as freshmen. How do you hope to be remembered?
A: I hope we can leave behind a strong legacy, and that has to happen this year. Last year we didn't really have leaders, but we learned more than anything what not to do. I hope, personally, I can leave behind some tough records to break and that we can have a winning season.
Q: Your family, including your father, Keith, has a good history of athletics in this county. Is that a good or bad thing for you?
A: It gives me a certain expectation to live up to, but it also pushes me a little harder than I normally might be pushed, so I guess it's a good thing.
ROSTER
1 Tino Hernandez - Senior
3 Seth Clayborne - Senior
4 Christian Bukle - Senior
5 Jared Campbell - Senior
6 Christian Rangel - Junior
7 Lucas Sexton - Freshman
9 Jacob Mays - Senior
10 Brady Swilling - Senior
11 Payton Swilling - Sophomore
12 Izzy Hernandez - Senior
13 Matthew Clayton - Sophomore
14 Ryan Crider - Senior
15 Hinton McConkey - Sophomore
16 Taylor Brown - Senior
17 John Davis - Sophomore
18 Aaron Mendez - Sophomore
19 Chris Lawson - Freshman
20 Leonardo Lechuga - Freshman
21 Dylan Bartenfield - Junior
22 Juan Salaises - Freshman
23 Jon Olinger - Senior
24 Brandon Freeman - Senior
25 Gary Epperson - Sophomore
26 Bo Sasser - Sophomore
27 Brandon Patterson - Junior
28 Jeremy Panter - Sophomore
29 Jordan Couch - Freshman
30 Adrian Cooks - Sophomore
31 Levi Amos - Sophomore
32 Andrew Decker - Freshman
33 Steven Holmes - Junior
34 Jonathon Cain - Sophomore
35 John Chastain - Junior
36 Micah Burgess - Freshman
37 Cody Bryson - Junior
40 David Brown - Freshman
42 Arturo Salaises - Junior
43 Cody Tucker - Senior
44 Dakota Rhoden - Sophomore
45 Zach Crumley - Junior
51 Caleb Campbell - Sophomore
52 Brandon Adame - Sophomore
54 Chris Townsend - Junior
55 Isaiah Jackson - Senior
56 Wesley Sanford - Freshman
57 Blake Langham - Sophomore
58 Jacob Ledford - Senior
59 Cody Torres - Sophomore
60 Tyson Taylor - Sophomore
61 Emmanuel Jacobo - Freshman
62 Hunter Martin - Sophomore
63 Trey Williams - Freshman
65 Taylor Bryson - Senior
66 Jordan Ray - Sophomore
67 Jason Townsend - Freshman
68 Hayden Lunsford - Senior
69 Wayne Agan - Senior
70 Brandon Jackson - Junior
71 Ethan Sampson - Freshman
72 Vincent Hidalgo - Freshman
73 Jason Perdue - Freshman
74 Austin Amos - Freshman
75 Driston Gregoire - Freshman
76 Nicholas Thomas - Freshman
77 Wesley Ross - Senior
78 Cody Dodson - Freshman
80 Justin Peacock - Junior
81 Fernando Rangel - Freshman
82 Michael Loughridge - Freshman
84 Tyler McKenzie - Freshman
85 Justin Mathis - Junior
86 Aaron Granger - Junior
87 Dustin Cooper - Freshman
88 Uriel Carrillo - Freshman
89 Isaiah Stennette - Freshman
91 Layton Collins - Sophomore
92 Kensely Nicholson - Freshman
94 Lane Holsomback - Sophomore
97 David Elrod - Sophomore
99 Derek Hanson