2013 - Hixson Wildcats

Friday, August 16, 2013

Hixson Wildcats

Coach: Jason Fitzgerald (7-4 in one year here; 73-52 in 26 years overall)

Last year: 7-4, lost to Notre Dame in the first round of the playoffs; first winning season since 2006, first playoff appearance since 2005.

'13 dreams: The Wildcats were selected by 6-AA coaches to win the district. They finished second to East Hamilton a year ago with a team that had very few seniors. There are eight returning starters on offense and seven on defense. The biggest concern for Fitzgerald is his team being the hunted rather than the hunter in a relatively balanced district.

13-for-13 contenders: Charles Franklin (6-foot-4, 285) is a converted tight end now playing as a two-way tackle. Tennessee State is among the college programs looking at him. Kedrick Bradley and Isaiah Robinson are running backs/linebackers with very similar size - Bradley 5-11, 190 and Robinson 5-11, 200 - and there's a good chance that sophomore speedster Tarik Twitty-Humphrey will get a shot.

Number of interest: Fitzgerald, who had spent most of his life as a player and coach at Rhea County, is the 13th head coach at Hixson, joining such notables as legendary Tony Martino, Chip Kell and Angelo "Nubby" Napolitano.

13 years ago: The Wildcats went 6-5 under coach Dan Duff. His assistants included current Baylor assistant Julian Kaufman and current Brainerd principal Uras Agee. Fitzgerald's 2000 Rhea County team got three games into the playoffs before losing 21-6 to eventual state champ Maryville

1-through-3: Quarterback Gill Brown

Q. What were the differences in last year and previous seasons?

A. In other years we fought a lot, played around and goofed off. Last year we goofed around a little but everybody got along. Last year was a great feeling. It is the best team I've played on.

Q. You're coming off a seven-win season. What's the mindset now?

A. The same [as last year]. People picking us [to win the district] doesn't mean a thing. The only thing that means anything is when you play on Friday night, but things are more positive this year. There's more pressure because of the expectations, but I don't think anybody's worried. We have been going out and working hard every day to improve.

Q. Who is Hixson's best athlete?

A. Kedric Bradley. He can do anything. He's smart, he can run and catch, and he also plays linebacker. He's a hard-working guy.

2013 Schedule

Aug. 23 Soddy-Daisy

Aug. 30 @South Pittsburg, 8

Sep. 6 Tyner *

Sep. 13 Bradley Central

Sep. 20 @Howard *

Sep. 27 @Livingston Academy

Oct. 4 East Ridge *

Oct. 17 Red Bank *

Oct. 24 @Central *

Oct. 31 @Brainerd *

  • District 6-AA game

2012 Stats

Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs

Gill Brown 81-168-8 1,229 13

Rushing Att. Yards TDs

Kedric Bradley 128 757 6

Isaiah Robinson 99 479 3

Eric Jones 72 309 5

Gill Brown 68 104 8

Receiving No. Yards TDs

Allante Novene 43 780 8

Kedric Bradley 22 211 2

K.J. Yates 7 102 0

Allan Diaz 6 105 0

Isaiah Robinson 2 41 2

Roster

No. Name Class

1 Allen Diaz Senior

1 Hunter Doyle Freshman

2 Nic Beatty Junior

3 Tre Coleman Sophomore

4 Justin Nicholson Sophomore

5 Isaiah Robinson Senior

6 Tarik Twitty-Humphrey Sophomore

7 Darion Nicholson Senior

8 Zach Zimmerson Senior

8 Jalen Pryor Freshman

9 James Cole Junior

10 Keyshun Bradley Freshman

11 Gill Brown Senior

13 Elijah Hiatt Senior

16 Preston Wilkey Junior

17 Quinton Russell Senior

18 Eric Threat Freshman

20 Jordan Johnson Junior

24 Preston Steele Senior

25 John Ferris Sophomore

26 Dylan Bargerstock Sophomore

28 Blake Oakley Sophomore

29 Justin Moore Junior

30 Hunter Coblentz Sophomore

31 Spencer Waites Senior

32 K.C. Shelton Senior

33 Marshall Cooper Junior

34 Kendrick Bradley Senior

36 Konnor Ziegler Sophomore

37 Austin McAfee Sophomore

38 Myles Ratliff Freshman

39 Ryan Sekenski Freshman

40 Connor Atwood Junior

42 Austin Gilkey Senior

43 Brandon Leffew Sophomore

46 Austin Clark Freshman

48 Sam Hunter Senior

50 Drew Weaver Senior

50 Miguel Vega Freshman

51 Charles Franklin Senior

52 Keegan Green Junior

53 McKenzie Martin Junior

54 Earl Baumhardt Sophomore

55 Will Webb Sophomore

56 Jared Armour Junior

57 Matthew Bone Sophomore

58 Kamryn Jones Freshman

59 Drew Keith Freshman

60 Jacob Byrd Junior

61 Rodney Jones Sophomore

62 Dakota Frase Senior

63 John Green Junior

64 Zach Mahoney Freshman

65 Tyler Weaver Freshman

66 Travis Tate Sophomore

67 Rasaan Sanders Senior

68 Brett Gardin Freshman

70 Brodie Gregory Freshman

71 Matthew Morrison Sophomore

75 Corey Evans Senior

76 Ryan Turner Junior

77 Garrett Wheeler Junior

78 Anthony Kring Senior

78 Bubba Palacio Freshman

80 Abraham Viar Freshman

81 T.J. Norman Senior

82 Austin Slifko Freshman

83 Luke White Senior

85 Jacob Rogers Senior