Friday, August 17, 2012
Red Bank Lions
Coach: E.K. Slaughter (First year here, 22-20 in his four years) Stadium: Red Bank Community Stadium Address: 640 Morrison Springs Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415
BY THE NUMBERS
4 - Key players who stand 6-foot-3 or better: 6-4 quarterback Hagen Wilkey, 6-4 receiver Chris Tucker and 6-3 linemen Adolphus Hollingsworth and Courtney Stamper.
8 - Ongoing winning seasons and playoff appearances in a row for the Lions. The streak includes four seasons with at least 10 wins (2005-07, 2009).
96 - Ongoing consecutive games without being shut out. Red Bank last failed to score in a 13-0 loss to Cleveland midway through the 2002 season.
2011 stats leaders
RUSHING Att Yards Avg TD
Niquia McDDuffie 133 598 4.5 11
*Demetrius Williams 50 229 4.6 5
Randall Lee 64 186 2.9 4
J.J. Lewis 18 126 7.0 1
PASSING Comp-Att Yards Int TD
Niquia McDuffie 101 204 1684 6 14
RECEIVING Att Yards Avg TD
Deres Benn 48 936 19.5 9
Kameno Watson 38 597 15.7 3
*Hagen Wilkey 9 155 9.1 1
TACKLES Solo Assists Total
*Jake Parker 91 25 103.5
Deres Benn 86 15 93.5
*Corbin Mitchell 60 24 72
Fan's guide to this year's Red Bank Lions
Recent history
They made the playoffs but lost in a stunning first-round upset on the road at Sequoyah. It was that kind of season as well. They started off so well, getting four straight wins, then being embarrassed by Cleveland (41-6). They then won three before blowing district championship hopes and a likely playoff host's role with consecutive losses to East Hamilton and Tyner to end the regular season. Here's a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
Season 1 5 10
2011 -------(7)
2010 ------(6)
2009 ----------(10)
2008 -------(7)
2007 ----------(10)
Schedule
Aug. 23 Soddy-Daisy
Aug. 31 East Ridge*
Sept. 7 at Walker Valley
Sept. 14 Hixson*
Sept. 21 at Cleveland
Sept. 28 at Central*
Oct. 5 at Brainerd*
Oct. 12 at Howard*
Oct. 19 East Hamilton*
Oct. 26 Tyner*
All games start at 7:30 p.m.
Three strengths
1) The Lions don't have a burner, but the overall team speed is above average. Running back candidate Vincent Gordon is probably the quickest, but fellow backs Demetrius Williams and Chris Tucker aren't far behind.
2) Red Bank has ranked near the top of a league that prides itself on physical play, and linebackers Nick Burnette and Jake Parker and safety Demetrius Williams are expected to lead the way along with center Tyler Phillips, who'll be a third-year starter.
3) Although now graduated Niquia McDuffie led the Lions in rushing and passing last year, Red Bank has 6-foot-4, 210-pound Hagen Wilkey at quarterback. The senior, under center to start the 2011 season, was the difference in a win over Soddy-Daisy as McDuffie served a suspension. Wilkey also has started at defensive end, linebacker and tight end.
Three concerns
1) Red Bank will likely have numerous offensive and defensive starters doubling on kicking teams, primarily because of a lack of depth. Right now the kicking or punting is hit or miss, but the Lions have Christian Velasquez from the soccer program.
2) Most of the experienced receivers and defensive backs graduated, but the staff found a potential big target in Tucker in the halls, and Elias Baker has transferred in from Oregon.
3) Assuming control of the program from a former boss, Tim Daniels, Slaughter has holdover coordinators Kraig Campbell (offense) and Tyler Rich (defense) and has added Kerry Jackson and Steve Idol to coach defensive backs and linebackers, respectively. Terminology is different, and Slaughter intends to make sure he doesn't assume anything when he talks with the staff and when the coaches talk with the players.
Roster
2 Khalik Hudson Senior
3 Micah Giddens Senior
4 Frunsez Kendricks Sophomore
5 Micheal Robinson Junior
6 Quan Springs Junior
7 Hagen WilkeySenior
8 Chris Tucker Senior
10 Josey Janow Junior
11 Ellias Baker Senior
12 Malik Davis Sophomore
13 Christian Velazquez Sophomore
20 Antwan Vaughn Sophomore
21 Demetrius Williams Senior
22 Vincent Gordon Senior
23 Darrius Akridge Junior
25 Shawn Caldweell Sophomore
27 Graylin Walker Sophomore
28 Mumba Ramson Junior
30 Eddie Giddens Sophomore
31 Corbin Mitchell Senior
50 Courtney Stamper Sophomore
51 Jake Parker Senior
52 Nick Burnette Senior
53 Tyler Phillips Senior
54 Jordan Smith Sophomore
55 Gabe Smith Sophomore
56 Myles Smith Sophomore
58 Dagen Burnett Junior
59 Chris Eberhart Senior
61 Trevor Skiles Sophomore
64 Jaylen Moore Sophomore
66 Brandon Wright Junior
67 Adolphus Hollingsworth Junior
69 Ethan Byrd Senior
71 Alex Chambers Sophomore
72 Anthony Sales Junior
74 Conagher Smith Junior
75 Jadarrius Thompson Senior
78 Bruce Dothard Senior
80 Caleb Scott Senior
Three questions with ...
JAKE PARKER
(Senior linebacker)
Q: How good can Red Bank be?
A: We have a lot of potential. That's really all I want to say. I don't want to put a target on our back. We have a lot of people back on defense, but I really can't think of a weakness.
Q: What's your take on E.K. Slaughter taking over for Tim Daniels?
A: It's an exciting time. Coach Slaughter's big things are tempo and technique. Coach Daniels was a great coach and I owe him a lot, but someone new coming in is like a breath of fresh air.
Q: How big a part of your life is football?
A: It's huge. I've only played five years, but I can't think of my life now without football.