BY THE NUMBERS4 - Barger's previous seasons with the Indians and their playoff appearances in that time. Sequatchie is 27-18 in that time and 1-4 in the postseason, the win coming against archrival Bledsoe County, Barger's alma mater.5 - Times the Indians have failed to score in double digits in 45 games the last four years. They scored no fewer than 14 in a game last season, and the last time they were shut out was a 2008 playoff loss (45-0) to Smith County.43 - Freshmen and sophomores among Sequatchie County's 64 players, with only eight seniors. The 21 freshmen know success. They went 7-1 in their middle school league, their only loss by 18-14 to South Pittsburg.SCHEDULEAug. 17 at York Institute, 8Aug. 24 at Meigs CountyAug. 31 at Grundy County,* 8Sept. 7 South Pittsburg, 8Sept. 14 Chattanooga Christian,* 8Sept. 21 Marion County, 8Sept. 28 at Bledsoe County,* 8Oct. 5 Whitwell, 8Oct. 12 Notre Dame*Oct. 26 Signal Mountain,* 7* District 7-AA gameGames start at 7:30 p.m. except where noted.
SEQUATCHIE COUNTY INDIANS
Coach: Chad Barger (Fifth year here, 38-38 in his seven years)
Stadium address: Highway 127, Dunlap, TN 37327
RECENT HISTORY
The Indians began last year with a three-game win streak, averaging 24.3 points per game, and sewed up another postseason entry with back-to-back wins over Whitwell and Notre Dame. They lost the final two games of the year, though, to Signal Mountain and then Harpeth to finish 7-4. Here's a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
Season 1 5 10
2011 -------(7)
2010 -------(7)
2009 ------(6)
2008 ------(6)
2007 -(1)
THREE STRENGTHS
1) While there are few seniors, the ones who are there are considered a strength. Barger called Jake Pickett, Gaither Barker and Max Songer "war daddies for the last couple of years." The offensive line will be big, anywhere from 230 pounds to 265-270.
2) New starting quarterback Deylan Harvey gives the Indians more of a passing threat than they've had in Barger's four previous seasons. He will be asked to keep the Indians out of bad offensive situations more than to win games. Will the Indians throw more? Barger said it's likely.
3) The coaching staff. Barger loves having former head coaches Curt Jones and Sam Montgomery among his assistants, because they can alleviate some of the headaches that go with the head coaching title. He feels that very few details will get past his staff. Another former head coach on last year's staff - defensive coordinator Mickey Mays - now is coaching the defensive line for the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Inexperience. There are five starters returning on each side of the ball, but some of those are two-way players. There are always times when sophomores and freshmen will make youthful mistakes.
2) The offensive backfield is new and there is no proven showpiece like Jerry Fain in 2011 or Hunter Lewis in 2010, each a 1,000-yard runner at least once.
3) The secondary will have four new starters in safeties Brandon Turner and Harvey and cornerbacks Madison Tucker and Jackson Hamblen. Harvey and Turner played very little and Hamblen only sparingly last year. Tucker is athletic but his forte has been basketball. This is the senior's first foray into high school football.
THREE QUESTIONS WITH DEYLAN HARVEY
(Junior quarterback)
Q: Sequatchie has a good run of playoff appearances. What do you think your chances are this year?
A: I think we'll do pretty well, if we throw the ball a little bit. I think we can compete and qualify for the playoffs again. There will be some good games in the district this year.
Q: What is the most important thing a quarterback does?
A: Runs the offense, controls the team. I can throw pretty well.
Q: What's the most important thing you have learned from football?
A: You have to try hard if you want to succeed.
ROSTER
1 Keith Billingsley - Junior
2 Hayden Hicks - Sophomore
3 Kyle McDowell - Senior
4 Colby Reed - Freshman
5 Jacob Miller - Freshman
6 Jake Pickett - Senior
7 Madison Tucker - Senior
8 Brad Thompson - Sophomore
9 Bryson Turner - Junior
10 Deylan Harvey - Junior
11 Troy Sanders - Freshman
12 Brandon Turner - Sophomore
13 Nathan Stoner - Freshman
14 Jerrick Daniel - Junior
15 Trent Killen - Freshman
16 Christian Payne - Junior
18 Jarred Keener - Freshman
20 Jackson Hamblen - Junior
21 Brelyn Grant - Freshman
22 Blake Cates - Junior
24 Deegan Marshall - Sophomore
25 Brandon Rudd - Freshman
27 Scott McCarver - Junior
28 Alex Turner - Freshman
29 Billy Morrison - Freshman
30 John Kramer - Sophomore
32 Dalton Lee - Sophomore
33 Jerrod Herron - Sophomore
34 Jacob Stewart - Sophomore
36 Justin D. Hobbs - Senior
37 Peyton Scoggins - Freshman
40 Trenton Cavanaugh - Sophomore
42 Preston Yother - Freshman
44 Matt Lewis - Junior
45 Logan Wells - Junior
47 Justin M. Hobbs - Senior
50 Tyler Teague - Junior
51 Hayden Foster - Sophomore
52 Billee Bush - Freshman
54 Zane Swanger - Freshman
55 Max Songer - Senior
56 Trevor Clark - Junior
57 Andrew Harvey - Freshman
58 Jeremiah Barker - Sophomore
61 Jared Bass - Sophomore
62 Jordan Cline - Sophomore
63 Zack Layman - Senior
64 Richard Daniels - Sophomore
66 Kraig Bice - Junior
67 Chandler Morrison - Junior
69 J.D. McDaniel - Senior
70 Wyatt Presto - Sophomore
71 Peyton Tate - Freshman
72 Gaither Barker - Senior
74 Juan Dees - Freshman
75 Kyler Hudson - Sophomore
78 Brent Holland - Sophomore
79 Robert Easterly - Freshman
81 Daniel Marshall - Freshman
82 Jonah Adams - Freshman
84 Jared Hobbs - Freshman
85 Fisher Voncanon - Sophomore
87 Matthew McDowell - Sophomore
99 Alex Romero - Sophomore