FAN'S GUIDE TO THIS YEAR'S SEQUOYAH CHIEFS
Coach: Bill Satterfield (14-29 in four seasons here, 208-105 overall)
Stadium address: 3128 Highway 411 N, Madisonville, TN 37354
THREE STRENGTHS
1) The Chiefs graduated some who played key roles, but returning 16 of 22 to starting spots should be a big help.
2) Sequoyah's 4-4 defense has some gifted linebackers. Red Bank's Lions can confirm the talent of Blake Huffman, a returning senior on the outside who intercepted two passes against them in the Chiefs' first-round Class 4A state-playoff victory last year.
3) A preseason trip to a camp at Tusculum College in Greeneville provided the Chiefs an opportunity to strengthen the bond among the players while they also gained by scrimmaging multiple teams.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Sequoyah's power running game won't be the same without 200-plus-pound quarterback Trey Dyer, who was last year's Monroe County player of the year in football and baseball.
2) The Chiefs are planning to have a more balanced attack this season. The burden to make it work falls on newcomer and junior drop-back quarterback Brett King.
3) Sequoyah's secondary was challenged by tall receivers last season. Forrest McCain, who's in the 6-foot-2 range, is being moved from defensive end to safety to try to help combat that.
Recent history
Sequoyah's 6-6 record last season, which included one state-playoff victory before its season came to an end, was the Chiefs' first non-losing season since they went 6-5 with a first-round postseason loss in 2003. Their record in the seven years in between was 16-54. Here's a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
Season
2011 -----(5)
2010 ----(4)
2009 (0)
2008 ----(4)
2007 --(2)
SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at Rockwood
Aug. 24 at Tellico Plains
Aug. 31 at Meigs County*
Sept. 7 Lenoir City
Sept. 14 Cumberland County
Sept. 28 McMinn Central*
Oct. 5 Scott
Oct. 12 at Polk County*
Oct. 19 at Loudon
Oct. 26 Sweetwater*
*District 5-AA game